Research And Describe What Is Agoraphobia (Research Paper Sample)

Agoraphobia
Name
Institution Affiliation
Agoraphobia
Background
Agoraphobia is a health disorder that is typically characterized by fear to be in places where escape might be difficult especially if something goes wrong (Cornnachio, Chou, Sacks, Pincus & Comer, 2015). If not treated at an early stage of development, it can lead to uncontrollable symptomatology such as depression, drug and substance misuse or even suicidal. Previous research findings by Wittchen, et al, showed that there exists some correlation between agoraphobia and panic disorder spectrum (Cornnachio, Chou, Sacks, Pincus & Comer, 2015). However, debate that has been based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual claims that agoraphobia is not a residual form of panic disorder and should be classified as an independent complication (Cornnachio, Chou, Sacks, Pincus & Comer, 2015). Considering such contradicting domains, assessing variations in DSM-IV agoraphobia with respect to the clinical consequences of revised DSM-5 definition can help to understand the reasons behind its prevalence among the adolescents.
Hypothesis
It has been difficult to differentiate between a youth experiencing normal panic disorder and the one with agoraphobia. This is because right from the first manual of DSM-3 to DSM-4, agoraphobia was not considered as an independent disorderbut rather a sequela of panic disorder (Cornnachio, Chou, Sacks, Pincus & Comer, 2015). Therefore, the present study aimed at identifying how the revised DSM-5 manual can be useful in identifying adolescents with agoraphobic prevalence.
Methods
About 151 youths, aged between six and eighteen years, who succeeded in DSM-4 criterion on agoraphobia but could not meet that of DSM-5 were involved in the research. Only youths with agoraphobic condition, but without any psychotic symptom, were involved in the study and the correlation was in accordance to youths who met the criteria compared to those who did not. Both participants and their parents filled in assessment documents which were then assessed weekly by a team of 22 proficient diagnosticians who have specialized in treatment of childhood panic disorders (Cornnachio, Chou, Sacks, Pincus & Comer, 2015). This process was followed until all the diagnosticians came into a consensus on a particular diagnosis profile. Participants were grouped into those who met DSM-5 criteria and those who did not with their percentage rating being computed (Cornnachio, Chou, Sacks, Pincus & Comer, 2015). A secondary assessment was equally conducted to determine any participant found to meet criteria for other related panic disorders.
Results
About 24% of the participants who were found to have symptoms that are steady with DSM-4 did not succeed in meeting DSM-5 criteria. However, this group of youths displayed comparative sternness in other related panic disorders. Although there was no much variation in anxiety challenges such as depression among all participants, agoraphobic participants who did not successfully meet DSM-5 criterion had higher levels of anxiety symptom...