Psychiatry Investig.  2021 Apr;18(4):277-283. 10.30773/pi.2020.0342.

The Burden of Agoraphobia in Worsening Quality of Life in a Community Survey in Italy

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Torino, Italy
  • 2PhD Programme Innovation Sciences and Technologies, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
  • 3Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
  • 4Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA
  • 5University of Roma La Sapienza, Roma, Italy
  • 6DAME, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
  • 7Department of Drug Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
  • 8Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, Troina, Italy
  • 9University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
  • 10Department of Mental Health, ASL Bari, Italy
  • 11Azienda Ospedaliera Brotzu, Cagliari, Italy
  • 12University of L’Aquila, L’Aquila, Italy
  • 13University of Florence, Florence, Italy
  • 14Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Abstract


Objective
Current nosology redefined agoraphobia as an autonomous diagnosis distinct from panic disorder. We investigated the lifetime prevalence of agoraphobia, its association with other mental disorders, and its impact on the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL).
Methods
Community survey in 2,338 randomly selected adult subjects. Participants were interviewed with the Advanced Neuropsychiatric Tools and Assessment Schedule (ANTAS), administered by clinicians. The diagnoses were based on the ICD-10 criteria. The Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12) was used to quantify HR-QoL.
Results
In the sample, 35 subjects met the criteria for agoraphobia (1.5%), with greater prevalence among women (2.0%) than men (0.9%): odds ratio (OR) 2.23; 95% CI: 1.0-5–2. Agoraphobia was more often seen among those with (n=26; 1.1%) than without (n=9; 0.4%) panic disorder: OR=8.3; 2.9–24.4. Co-morbidity with other mental disorders was substantial. The mean score of SF-12 in people with agoraphobia was 35.2±7.8, with similar levels of HR-QoL in people with (35.3±7.9) or without (34.8±7.3) panic disorder: ANOVA: F(1;33)=0.0; p=1.00.
Conclusion
One out of seventy people may suffer from agoraphobia in their lifetime. The attributable burden in terms of HR-QoL is substantial and comparable to the one observed for chronic mental disorders such as major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Keyword

Agoraphobia, Panic disorder, Major depressive disorder, Quality of life, Community survey, Epidemiology
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