Agoraphobia literally means “fear of the marketplace,” based on agora, the word for the Greek marketplace. Many people with panic disorder avoid a number of situations because of their fears. This avoidance is known as agoraphobia, which is anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape might be difficult or in which help may not be available in the event of having a panic attack.
The term “agoraphobia” was first introduced by Westphal in 1871 to describe the fear and avoidance of public places, although this condition was not widely recognized until the late 1970s. Westphal also noted the physiological symptoms of anxiety (i.e., palpitations, blushing, trembling, and sensations of heat) and the intense subjective anxiety that is elicited upon anticipating entering a feared situation.
For this reason, people with agoraphobia often avoid places such as trains, crowds and queues or only enter these situations with a trusted friend or relative. Common agoraphobic situations include shopping malls, public transportation, supermarkets, restaurants, theaters, additional situations involving crowds or waiting in line, travel far from home, and being alone. Obviously, this can be extremely disabling and often limits opportunities in terms of work, social or other activities.
In DSM-III; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 1980, agoraphobia was characterized as a “marked fear and avoidance of being alone, or in public places from which escape might be difficult, or help not available in case of sudden incapacitation”.
Agoraphobia: anxiety disorder characterized by symptoms of anxiety
