title: Do agoraphobics interpret the environment in large shops and supermarkets differently?
abstract: Agoraphobics typically have difficulties in visiting supermarkets. The brief report presents results of a survey investigating the properties of supermarkets which provoke or ease anxiety-related responses in shoppers (N = 500) and two further groups: agoraphobics (N = 40) and participants responding to a local press advert (N = 54). Results showed that layout features, stairways and diminished access were rated as more anxiety provoking in the agoraphobic-type groups compared to general shoppers. The safety-signal model of agoraphobic behaviour was supported although some evidence of dysfunction of spatial orientation was found.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Fazakerley Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Humphris
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019336:Cognitive Science; D006801:Humans; D009949:Orientation; D013028:Space Perception