Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
Panic disorder and agoraphobia are unlinked in DSM-5. Thus, the former DSM-IV diagnoses of panic
disorder with agoraphobia, panic disorder without agoraphobia, and agoraphobia without history of
panic disorder are now replaced by two diagnoses, panic disorder and agoraphobia, each with separate
criteria. The co-occurrence of panic disorder and agoraphobia is now coded with two diagnoses. This
change recognizes that a substantial number of individuals with agoraphobia do not experience panic
symptoms. The diagnostic criteria for agoraphobia are derived from the DSM-IV descriptors for agoraphobia,
although endorsement of fears from two or more agoraphobia situations is now required, because
this is a robust means for distinguishing agoraphobia from specific phobias. Also, the criteria for
agoraphobia are extended to be consistent with criteria sets for other anxiety disorders (e.g., clinician
judgment of the fears as being out of proportion to the actual danger in the situation, with a typical
duration of 6 months or more).