In the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), the diagnostic manual used by psychiatrists, psychologists and other mental health professionals, two types of agoraphobia include panic disorder with agoraphobia and agoraphobia without a history of panic disorder.

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder which involves fear of being trapped or being panicked and avoiding such situations. The symptoms of agoraphobia include fear of leaving home alone, many people, waiting in a queue, enclosed places like theatres, small stores, open spaces like malls, and parking lots, and using public transportation. Treatment includes psychotherapy, also known as talk therapy and medicine.

Major depressive disorder, PTSD, and alcohol use disorder are also common as well, typically as a secondary result of agoraphobia. Anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders, can be comorbid with agoraphobia.

Specific phobia, situational type, should be diagnosed instead of agoraphobia if the fear, anxiety, or avoidance is limited to just 1 of the agoraphobic situations. If there are fears from 2 or more agoraphobic situations, a diagnosis of agoraphobia is warranted.