F40: Phobic anxiety disorders

F40.0: Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia is a complex fear-based mental health disorder where people experience significant anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape may be difficult, or help might not be available if something goes wrong. This condition often leads to the affected individuals avoiding situations that might cause them to panic and feel trapped, helpless or embarrassed. Common situations that might be hard for someone with agoraphobia can include taking public transportation, being in open spaces, being in enclosed spaces, standing in line, or being in a crowd. They may also have trouble leaving their homes, a symptom known as homebound or housebound. The person often changes their behavior due to this fear, and this can severely restrict their normal daily activities. The presence of this disorder may lead to a significantly lower quality of life and should be recognized as a serious condition.