AbstractAgoraphobia is an impairing mental disorder characterized by fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or where help might not be available in the event of panic‐like, incapacitating, or embarrassing symptoms. The median age of onset for agoraphobia is 20, and risk factors for its development include the presence of panic disorder and phobias, female gender, and younger age. Common comorbidities include anxiety, trauma‐related, depressive, substance use, and somatoform disorders. Genetics, personality traits, cognitive factors, and learning processes contribute to the etiology of the disorder. When left untreated, agoraphobia has a chronic and unremitting course. Empirically supported treatments of agoraphobia include cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy.
