and psychotic disorders). Panic attack may therefore be used as a descriptive specifier for
any anxiety disorder as well as  other mental disorders. 
Individuals with agoraphobia are fearful and anxious about two or more of the follow-
ing situations: using public transportation; being in open spaces; being in enclosed places;
standing in line or being in a crowd; or bein g outside of the home alone in other situations.
The individual fears these situations because of  thoughts that escape might be difficult or
help might not be available in the event of developing panic-like symptoms or other inca-
pacitating or embarrassing symptoms. These situ ations almost always induce fear or anx-
iety and are often avoided and requ ire the presence of a companion. 
The key features of generalized anxiety diso rder are persistent and excessive anxiety
and worry about various domains,  including work and school performance, that the indi-
vidual finds difficult to contro l. In addition, the individual experiences physical symptoms,
including restlessness or feeling keyed up or on edge; being easily fatigued; difficulty con-
centrating or mind going blank; irritabilit y; muscle tension; and sleep disturbance. 
Substance/medication-induced anxiety disord er involves anxiety due to substance in-
toxication or withdrawal or to a medication treatment. In anxiety di sorder due to another
medical condition, anxiety symptoms are th e physiological consequence of another med-
ical condition.
Disorder-specific scales are available to bette r characterize the seve rity of each anxiety
disorder and to capture change in severity over time. For ease of use, particularly for in-
dividuals with more than one anxiety disorder, these scales have been developed to have
the same format (but different focus) across the anxiety disorders, with ratings of behav-