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Diagnosis of Agoraphobia

A diagnosis is usually made by a healthcare professional based on a description of the symptoms. However, the following need to be considered:

  • The symptoms must be due to anxiety and should not be secondary to other symptoms, such as delusions or obsessions;
  • The anxiety should occur mainly in at least two of the following situations: crowds, public places, travelling away from home, and travelling alone; and
  • Avoiding the situation where anxiety occurs must be, or have been, a prominent feature.