Agoraphobia With Panic Disorder in a Psychiatric Setting: A Case Report

Abstract

<title>Abstract</title> Background: Agoraphobia diagnosis has largely remained unchanged, with its criteria based on persistent fear and avoidance of certain clusters of situations. The controversial diagnosis of Agoraphobia with or without a history of panic disorder has also been retained in classification systems; with the understanding that patients either generally have never fully met or meet the diagnostic criteria for panic attacks. Case report: A 49-year-old female presented to an outpatient Psychiatric clinic with a 12-year history of fear of enclosed spaces which was precipitated by an unstable relationship with a male partner who frequently assaulted, abused, and neglected her because she refused to terminate an unplanned pregnancy, she had for him. According to ICD-11, she was diagnosed with Agoraphobia with panic attacks, she was treated with Tab. Fluoxetine 20mg and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and in the past two years she improved significantly with appropriate consistency in her follow-up visits. Conclusion: This case report shines a beam of light on the very few reported cases of agoraphobia and its incapacitating course on those who suffer from it. In Nigeria, there is scanty literature on agoraphobia, for multiple reasons such as stigma, the embarrassing nature of the illness, and no disclosure of illness.