Please note: Most persons with phobic disorders acknowledge that the severity of their fears is excessive and retain insight despite an inability to control their feelings
All DSM-5 criteria for phobic disorders require that fear, anxiety, or avoidance causes clinically significant distress or impairment that is out of proportion to the actual danger posed. They also require excluding that the fears, anxiety, or avoidance can be directly attributed to a substance, other mental disorder, or other medical condition.
The specific DSM-5 criteria for social anxiety disorder (social phobia) are:
Marked fear or anxiety about one or more social situations in which the individual might be scrutinized by others, such as social interactions (i.e. having a conversation or meeting unfamiliar people), being observed (i.e. eating or drinking), and performing in front of others (i.e. giving a speech); in children, the anxiety may occur in peer settings and not just during interactions with adults
The individual fears acting in a way or showing anxiety symptoms that will be negatively evaluated (i.e. will be humiliating or embarrassing, will lead to rejection, or will offend others)
The social situation almost always provokes immediate fear or anxiety; in children, anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, clinging, shrinking, or failing to speak in social situations
The social situations are actively avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety
The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the social situation and to the sociocultural context
The fear, anxiety, or avoidance persists, typically for 6 months or longer
The specific DSM-5 criteria for specific phobia are:
Marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (eg, flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, or seeing blood); in children, this fear or anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or clinging
The phobic object or situation almost always provokes immediate fear or anxiety
The phobic object or situation is actively avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety
The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the specific object or situation and to the sociocultural context
The fear, anxiety, or avoidance persists, typically for 6 months or longer
The specific DSM-5 criteria for agoraphobia are:
Marked fear or anxiety about at least two of the following five situations: (1) using public transportation, (2) being in open spaces, (3) being in enclosed spaces, (4) standing in line or being in a crowd, and (5) being outside the home alone
The individual avoids these situations because of thoughts that escape might be difficult or help unavailable if panic-like symptoms or other embarrassing symptoms (i.e. fear of falling in older adults or fear of incontinence) should develop
The agoraphobic situations almost always provoke immediate fear or anxiety
The agoraphobic situations are actively avoided, necessitate the presence of a companion, or are endured with intense fear or anxiety
The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual threat posed by the agoraphobic situation and to the sociocultural context
The fear, anxiety, or avoidance persists, typically for 6 months or longer
Medscape
Cause
When you do not feel safe
Situations where escape might be difficult
That help wouldn’t be available if things go wrong
When you are alone
Feel trapped in an elevator or are in a large crowd ,travelling on public transport, visiting a shopping centre, leaving home and/or large open spaces
Family history
A bad experience while you are in a certain place or situation
Bereavement
Divorce
Loosing your job
Being in an unhappy relationship, or in a relationship where your partner is very controlling
Being a victim of violent crime or a terrorist attack if you leave your house
Becoming infected by a serious illness if you visit crowded places
Doing something by accident that will result in you embarrassing or humiliating yourself in front of others
Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice
Detailed Information
Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Agoraphobia/Phobia in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).
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