Agoraphobia Statistics

Agoraphobia statistics show that women, adolescents, young adults and the elderly are at higher risk of experiencing agoraphobia.

Agoraphobiaaffects many aspects of daily life. It canimpairan individual’s ability to perform at work, maintain a household, have a social life and engage in intimate relationships. Agoraphobia statistics reveal the prevalence of this condition, who it impacts and what treatment methods can be used to alleviate symptoms.

Prevalence of Agoraphobia

Agoraphobia prevalencevaries in different populations, but overall, rates are low. Individuals that have anxiety, a relative with agoraphobia, experienced trauma or lost a loved one have ahigher riskof agoraphobia. Women aremore likelyto have agoraphobia than men, and rates of agoraphobia are highest inadolescents and the elderly.

Agoraphobia in Men vs. Women

Rates ofanxiety disorderstend to be higher in women, and agoraphobia is no exception. The research on women and agoraphobia has found that the female-to-male ratio of agoraphobia prevalenceranges from 1.6–3.1. Thus, women are between one and one-half times and three times more likely to have agoraphobia than men. It is thought that the differences between men and women’s agoraphobia rates are the result ofsex hormonesand the fact that females are more likely to be the victim of physical, mental and child abuse. Women also tend to havemore severe symptomsand experience more impairment from agoraphobia than men. Onagoraphobia and men, research has found that there is ahigher rateofalcoholismin men with the condition than women.

Agoraphobia in Adults

Though women are more likely to experience it, agoraphobia in adults is relatively rare. Only 1.3% of adults ever experience agoraphobia. The rates of agoraphobia are different for young and mature adults.

In young adults, going to college or having an occupation seems to lower the risk of agoraphobia. College-aged individuals who were “neither employed nor students nor trainees” weretwice as likelyto have agoraphobia than their peers. Unlike what is observed in middle-aged adults,agoraphobia in young adultstends not to be associated with apanic disorder.

Recently, it has been proposed that the prevalence ofagoraphobia in older adults, those age 65 and older, tends to be underreported. In mature adults, symptoms of agoraphobia, such as the tendency to remain at home, can be mistakenly attributed to poor health and the lack of a social network. The rate of agoraphobia may be as high as 10.4% in individuals over 65. Interestingly, agoraphobia and trauma are not linked in this population. The major risk factors for developing late-onset agoraphobia include severe anxiety and majordepression.

Agoraphobia in Children and Adolescents

Agoraphobia in childrenis uncommon, but it can occur. Tantrums, clinging, crying and freezing up in situations that can trigger their fear are characteristic of agoraphobia in children.

Compared to children and adults, agoraphobia in teens isrelatively commonand tends to be more severe. Therate of agoraphobia in adolescentsaged 13–18 has been estimated to be 2.4%. Like adults, the prevalence of agoraphobia in adolescents is twice as high in females than males.

In adolescents, thephysical manifestations of excessive anxietyand agoraphobia are unique to each individual and may include:

• Muscle tension and cramps
• Headaches
• Stomachaches
• Pain in the limbs and back
• Discomforts associated with puberty
• Fatigue
• Facial blotching and flushing
• Hyperventilating
• Sweating
• Trembling
• Startling easily

Agoraphobia in adolescents tends to be more severe than in other populations.

Agoraphobia and Co-Occurring Disorders

Agoraphobia often co-occurs with other disorders. For example, anxiety and agoraphobia usually occur together, as anxiety is arisk factorfor developing agoraphobia.Agoraphobia is also often confused withsocial anxiety disorder. However, agoraphobia and social anxiety differ in that social anxiety, is the fear of being judged in specific situations while agoraphobia is the fear of experiencing anxiety in a situation. Agoraphobia and social anxiety each result in an individual avoiding situations and can occur in the same individual.Panic disorders and agoraphobiacan also occur together as a person with a panic disorder is twenty times more likely to also have agoraphobia.

Agoraphobia is alsostrongly associatedwith higher rates of substance use, as individualsturn to substancesto manage their anxiety symptoms.The relationship between agoraphobia and alcohol abuse is unique. Alcohol can decrease feelings of anxiety. Thus, alcohol is often abused by individuals with agoraphobia to manage anxiety symptoms. On the other hand, alcohol abuse alters brain chemistry, promotes panic andcan increase anxietyover time. The result is that alcohol abuse worsens agoraphobia symptoms, even as agoraphobia results in a stronger dependency on alcohol.

Agoraphobia Treatment and Prognosis

When agoraphobia occurs alongside substance abuse, both must be addressed together to decrease the chance of relapse. Treating substance abuse without addressing the underlying anxiety leaves the individual open to seeking other ways to manage stress.

Agoraphobia treatmentinvolves both psychotherapy and medication. Anxiety disorders are especially amenable to treatment withcognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT focuses on addressing how a person’s thoughts and beliefs affect their behavior and mood. It attempts to change thinking patterns associated with anxiety-provoking situations.Medicationsfor agoraphobiacan treat the symptoms of agoraphobia, but not the underlying condition. For this reason, medications work best in conjunction with psychotherapy. Though antidepressants appear to be more effective, both antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications are prescribed for agoraphobia.With treatment, anagoraphobia prognosisis best.

The Recovery Village has treatment centers that can provide help for those suffering from co-occurringagoraphobia and substance use disorder. If you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse or alcohol misuse co-occurring with agoraphobia,call todayto learn about the options for treatment.