How is agoraphobia diagnosed?
Interestingly, agoraphobia, like other phobias, is often diagnosed and treated when patients seek treatment for other medical or emotional problems rather than as the primary reason that care is sought. As with other mental disorders, there is no single, specific test for agoraphobia. The primary-care doctor or psychiatrist will take a careful history, perform or refer to another doctor for a physical examination, and order laboratory tests as needed. If you have another medical condition that you know about, there may be an overlap of signs and symptoms between the old and the new conditions. Just determining that anxiety does not have a physical cause does not immediately identify the ultimate cause. Often, determining the cause requires the involvement of a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, and/or other mental-health professional. In order to diagnose agoraphobia, the professional will likely ask questions to ensure that the anxiety of the sufferer is truly the result of a fear o
