Under DSM-5, Panic Disorder may be diagnosed with or without Agoraphobia as a single disorder.

Under DSM-5, Panic Disorder may be diagnosed with or without Agoraphobia as a single disorder.

• A. They must always be separate diagnoses
• B. Agoraphobia is removed as a diagnosis
• C. Panic Disorder may be diagnosed with or without Agoraphobia as a single disorder
• D. Panic Disorder is no longer recognized

Answer: (C)

In DSM-5, Panic Disorder is diagnosed as a single disorder that can be given with or without the presence of Agoraphobia. This means clinicians use one diagnostic label—Panic Disorder—paired with the specifier indicating whether agoraphobic symptoms are present or not (Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia or Panic Disorder without Agoraphobia). The presence of agoraphobia does not create a separate separate disorder label; instead, it’s a modifier of Panic Disorder. This approach reflects how often panic attacks are tied to avoidance of certain situations, while keeping the overall diagnosis streamlined for treatment planning and clinical clarity. It’s still possible to diagnose Agoraphobia on its own if the fear and avoidance occur independently of panic symptoms, but when panic-related criteria are met, they’re captured within a single Panic Disorder diagnosis with the appropriate specifier. A patient with panic attacks who fears being in public places would be diagnosed as Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia.

In DSM-5, Panic Disorder is diagnosed as a single disorder that can be given with or without the presence of Agoraphobia. This means clinicians use one diagnostic label—Panic Disorder—paired with the specifier indicating whether agoraphobic symptoms are present or not (Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia or Panic Disorder without Agoraphobia). The presence of agoraphobia does not create a separate separate disorder label; instead, it’s a modifier of Panic Disorder. This approach reflects how often panic attacks are tied to avoidance of certain situations, while keeping the overall diagnosis streamlined for treatment planning and clinical clarity. It’s still possible to diagnose Agoraphobia on its own if the fear and avoidance occur independently of panic symptoms, but when panic-related criteria are met, they’re captured within a single Panic Disorder diagnosis with the appropriate specifier. A patient with panic attacks who fears being in public places would be diagnosed as Panic Disorder with Agoraphobia.