Agoraphobia without panic disorder

This code identifies a specific anxiety disorder characterized by intense fear and avoidance of situations where escape might be difficult or help unavailable, such as open spaces, crowds, or public transportation. Individuals with this condition experience significant distress or impairment in daily functioning due to these fears. Importantly, this diagnosis is made in the absence of a co-occurring panic disorder.

Apply this code when documentation clearly indicates agoraphobia as the primary diagnosis, and there is no evidence of panic attacks meeting the criteria for panic disorder. This typically occurs when a patient avoids specific situations due to fear of incapacitation or embarrassment, rather than fear of having a panic attack. Supporting documentation should include a psychiatric evaluation confirming the diagnostic criteria.

• Differentiate carefully from F41.0 (Panic disorder without agoraphobia) and F41.1 (Generalized anxiety disorder).
• Ensure the provider's documentation explicitly states "without panic disorder" or clearly indicates that panic attacks are not the primary concern driving the agoraphobic avoidance.
• If panic attacks are present but do not meet the full criteria for panic disorder, this code may still be appropriate, provided the agoraphobia is the dominant feature.