A middle aged person presented with the complaints of fear of leaving home, fear of travelling alone and fear of being in a crowd. He develops marked anxiety with palpitations and sweating, if he is in these situations. The most likely diagnosis is:
Generalized anxiety disorder
Schizophrenia
Personality disorder
Agoraphobia
Ans. D. AgoraphobiaAgoraphobia fear or avoidance of places like crowds, public places, being outside alone, public transpoation, from which escape would be difficult in the event of panic symptoms.Treatment includes:Pharmacotherapy -Benzodiazepines, SSRIs, TCAsPsychotherapy -Suppoive, Insight-oriented, Behavior, Cognitive and Viual therapyOther types of phobia:Claustrophobia: Fear of closed spacesAerophobia: Fear of flyingXenophobia: Fear of strangers