Agoraphobia and Panic Disorder: A Comparative Study

Aim: In this study we aim to get more information about agoraphobia (AG) which is an independent diagnosis in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) and to evaluate overlaps or differences between agoraphobia and panic disorder (PD) upon sociodemographic features and comorbidity with considering relation of these two disorders. Material and Method: Sociodemographic Data Form was given and Structural Clinical Interview for DSM Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) was applied to 33 patients diagnosed as AG and 34 patients diagnosed as PD with AG (PDA).Results: AG group consisted of 21 females (63.1%), 12 males (36%), totally 33 patients and PDA group consisted of 23 females (67.6%), 11 males (32.4%), totally 34 patients. Mean age of onset was 32.4±10.2 in PDA group and 31.1±12.1 in AG group. According to sociodemographic features, violence in family and smoking rates were significantly higher in PDA group than AG group. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) as a comorbidity was higher in PDA group. Discussion: In this study, we tried to identify the overlaps and differences of PDA and AG. For a better recognition of AG, further studies are needed