The relationship of panic disorder to agoraphobia

Twenty patients with agoraphobia or panic disorder were compared to each other using multiple variables of clinical illness. No differences were found. Only one of thirteen agoraphobic patients did not experience panic attacks. The agoraphobia symptoms never preceded the panic attacks in those twelve patients experiencing both agoraphobia and panic attacks. This study data and that of others is most consistent with the hypothesis that agoraphobia is a secondary manifestation of panic disorder.