Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder that develops as the outcome of recurrent panic attacks experienced by the individual in a specific situation or place that eventually turned out to be embarrassing or left no means of escape.The term agoraphobia had been derived from the Greek word ‘agora’ meaning public places or assemblies. Individuals with this disorder are known as agoraphobics and usually avoid crowded places such as streets, subways, elevators, shopping malls, movie theaters, amusement parks, museums and busy office complexes. These individuals also get anxious if they have to stand in queues while paying their bills or for other reasons. Some of them may even refrain from taking bus rides, drive or travel by air.

If an individual has a history of recurrent panic attacks, he/she is prone to the development of agoraphobia. Panic attacks are sudden and extremely terrifying. Agoraphobics develop a fear of experiencing a full blown attack in crowded placed leading to embarrassment or in situations from which escape would not be possible. This disrupts the normal functioning of the affected individuals and some agoraphobics even remain confined to their home in severe cases.

Causes of Agoraphobia:

Biological Factors: Research has established that panic disorder is the outcome of a biochemical abnormality in the brain. Initially it was thought that panic is different from generalized anxiety rather being a more chronic form of the latter. But when Imipramine, a tricyclic antidepressant drug was administered to patents for the treatment of panic disorder, it was found that the attacks were controlled but it did not help curb the anxiety associated with the disorder. It was later devised that panic attacks are caused by biochemical dysfunctions and are alarm reactions to potential or perceived threat. This alarm function may originate in individuals with panic disorder who are extremely sensitive to the rising levels of carbon dioxide in the brain.

The role of Nonepinephrine and serotonin: Biochemical dysfunction can also occur in agoraphobics and they are likely to experience full blown panic attacks when exposed to a variety of biologically challenging procedures than those individuals who have a strong psychological control. These procedures comprise of taking various drugs or inhaling air with altered amounts of carbon dioxide that puts stress on certain neurobiological systems such as increased heart rate and blood pressure often culminating in a panic attack for patients with a panic disorder.

Genetic factors: There is also evidence that agoraphobia tends to run in families. Many studies have shown that first degree relatives of individuals affected by agoraphobia are more likely to experience this disorder than those who do not have relatives prone to such disorders. Monozygotic twins are more likely to be concordant for the diagnosis than are dizygotic twins.