Which of the following is a characteristic of agoraphobia?
A.
The fear or anxiety is not better explained by another mental disorder.
B.
The individual fears or avoids social situations due to the perceived threat of negative evaluation.
C.
The fear or anxiety is persistent, typically lasting for 6 months or more.
D.
The individual fears or avoids certain situations due to thoughts of difficulty escaping or lack of available help in case of developing incapacitating symptoms.
The characteristic of agoraphobia is:
D. The individual fears or avoids certain situations due to thoughts of difficulty escaping or lack of available help in case of developing incapacitating symptoms.
Explanation:
- A. The fear or anxiety is not better explained by another mental disorder: While this is a criterion for diagnosing various anxiety disorders, it is not specific to agoraphobia. Agoraphobia has specific diagnostic criteria related to fear and avoidance of certain situations.
- B. The individual fears or avoids social situations due to the perceived threat of negative evaluation: This description is more characteristic of social anxiety disorder rather than agoraphobia.
- C. The fear or anxiety is persistent, typically lasting for 6 months or more: Although this is a requirement for diagnosing many anxiety disorders, including agoraphobia, it is not the defining feature of agoraphobia.
- D. The individual fears or avoids certain situations due to thoughts of difficulty escaping or lack of available help in case of developing incapacitating symptoms: This describes the core characteristic of agoraphobia. Individuals with agoraphobia often fear or avoid situations where they believe they may not be able to escape or get help if they experience severe anxiety or panic symptoms.
Correct answer: D