Vitamin Information Center

Agoraphobia
Definition
The ancient term agoraphobia is translated from Greek
as fear of an open marketplace. Accordingly to the
International Classification of Disease of WHO (ICD-
10), agoraphobia is characterized as the fear or avoidance
of crowds, public places, traveling alone, etc. At
least two symptoms of psycho-physiological agitation
(e. g. tachycardia, fear of losing control) have to appear
simultaneously. The psychological stress for persons
suffering from agoraphobia is significant, especially as
most realize that their safety-seeking behavior is exaggerated.
Most people develop agoraphobia after the
onset of  panic disorder. Agoraphobia is best understood
as an adverse behavioral outcome of repeated
panic attacks and the subsequent worry, preoccupation,
and avoidance.
Cross-References
 Anxiety Disorders

Acute and Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Definition
A post-traumatic stress disorder is the only  anxiety
disorder that, per definition, was caused by a traumatic
event. Therefore, this diagnosis can only be made if
the person has experienced a trauma and if there are
symptoms from the symptom cluster triad: experience
distressing recollections of the event (e. g. flashbacks or
nightmares), avoidance (e. g. apathy, emotional detachment,
avoidance of places or persons connected with
the trauma) and hyperarousal (e. g. insomnia, irritability,
hyper vigilance). The symptoms of an acute stress
disorder begin during or shortly following the trauma.
Persons suffering from PTSD can also show  dissociation.
If the symptoms and behavioral disturbances
of the acute stress disorder persist for more than one
month, and if these features are associated with functional
impairment or significant distress to the sufferer,
the diagnosis is changed to post-traumatic stress disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder is further defined in
DSM-IV as having three subforms: acute (< 3 months’
duration), chronic (≥3 months’ duration), and delayed
onset (symptoms began at least 6 months after exposure
to the trauma).
Cross-References
 Anxiety Disorders

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