Agoraphobia and Gender

Agoraphobia (AG) is characterized by intense fear of places or situations where escape might be difficult or where help in the case of panic-like symptoms may not be available. Typical feared situations are varied, ranging from crowded areas or enclosed spaces, like stores or theaters, to open spaces, such as bridges or parking lots, to forms of transportation, including cars, subways, and planes. Consistent with other anxiety disorders, significantly more women than men are affected by AG. This entry examines the possible origins of the discrepancies in prevalence rates across sex, the differences in the presentation and impact of AG between men and women, and the influence of cultural differences on the relationship between gender and AG. In addition, the entry investigates how agoraphobic features ...