Agoraphobia is a fear of?

Appeared in: HPSSSB Staff Nurse - 2016

Explanation

Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder involving an intense fear of situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing.
These situations often include open spaces, using public transportation, being in enclosed places, standing in line, or being in a crowd.
The core of the fear is often related to the possibility of having a panic attack or other incapacitating symptoms in a public place without easy access to safety or help.
Therefore, 'Open space' is one of the classic triggers for agoraphobia.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

Option B: The fear of height is known as Acrophobia, not Agoraphobia.
Option C: The fear of closed spaces is known as Claustrophobia.
Option D: The fear of animals is generally termed Zoophobia. Agoraphobia is not related to animals.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Definition and classification of phobias, specifically Agoraphobia as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses must be able to recognize symptoms of a panic attack, which is often linked with agoraphobia. Key interventions include providing a safe, quiet environment and guiding the patient through grounding techniques like slow, deep breathing.
Patient education is crucial. Nurses can teach coping strategies and explain that treatment, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication (like SSRIs), is effective.
What if the patient's fear is not of open spaces, but specifically of social gatherings where they might be judged? This would be classified as Social Anxiety Disorder (Social Phobia), which is distinct from agoraphobia, although they can co-occur.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword in the question, which is 'Agoraphobia'.
This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of psychiatric terminology.
Recall the definition of Agoraphobia. The root 'agora' comes from the Greek word for 'marketplace' or 'open space'.
Evaluate each option against this definition.
Option A, 'Open space', directly aligns with the classical understanding of agoraphobia.
Eliminate the other options by recalling their specific terms: Height (Acrophobia), Closed space (Claustrophobia), and Animals (Zoophobia).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Definition and classification of phobias, specifically Agoraphobia.
Stem keywords: Agoraphobia, fear
Lead-in keywords: is a fear of
Negative lead-in flag: false

Question ID

Q7sv2jUZ54CEbfFQbiVLlc

Reference Book

E6 Kaplan Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry-2022 (pp 1-3768 of 3768) pp. 1290-1292, 1289-1291

E6 Robert Boland, Marcia L. Verduin - Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Text of Psychiatry-Wolters Kluwer Health (2024) (pp 1-16525 of 16525) p. 15577-15579

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