Introduction
In the vernacular, claustrophobia is the fear of enclosed spaces. However, this definition is not complete. Also for the so-called agoraphobia is used as a synonym claustrophobia.
Here the patient is afraid of situations in which he is defenselessly exposed to embarrassing symptoms or helpless circumstances. The psychiatric background for both anxiety disorders is well researched and documented. However, there are significant differences between claustrophobia and agoraphobia. The latter is often accompanied by a panic disorder, which further increases the patient’s suffering.
Cause
Defining the cause of a feeling like claustrophobia has proven difficult in the past. Various aspects play a role in the development of anxiety in general as well as in particular. Different theories have been developed to explain the causes of an anxiety or panic disorder.
However, it should be assumed that not only one model applies but that it is probably the interaction that triggers the disease. In the learning theory explanation model, it is assumed that claustrophobia has been learned over time. Negative events are associated with specific objects or locations – for example, an elevator or a public square.
Either the experience is directly related to the stimulus (e.g. got stuck in an elevator) or the experience is unintentionally linked to the stimulus via so-called conditioning. The latter usually happens by chance: a negative experience happens in a certain place (e.g. a public place) and the feelings are then associated with the location. When they return, the associated feelings are then developed.
The Greek philosopher Epiktet described this circumstance as follows: “It is not the things in themselves that worry man, but his view of things. “If anxiety disorders are examined according to their psychodynamic background, it is particularly easy to establish a connection between the underlying character of the patient and the experience of fear in the case of claustrophobia. If the patient is unable to show any boundaries in real life and is more than averagely occupied by interpersonal relationships, this can cause a fundamental fear of being confined.
The patient develops claustrophobia – a fear of confined spaces. It is also believed that the biochemical processes that take place in the brain as well as genetic predispositions influence the development of anxiety and panic disorders in some patients. Since every person has a different DNA, there are also (sometimes minimal) differences in the brain.
The areas in which the biochemical processes for the development of emotions take place are not excluded and are therefore also individually more or less susceptible to corresponding disorders. However, the field of neurobiological and neurochemical aspects is extremely complicated and little researched. Anxiety in general, but also anxiety disorders such as claustrophobia, can be concomitant symptoms of another underlying disease.
Various psychiatric diseases such as psychoses, delusional or personality disorders play a role here, but also various physical disorders. Especially complications with heart and lung cause a fear of death in affected patients. Heart attacks, cardiac dysrhythmia, shortness of breath or an allergic shock are only a few examples of fear-inducing somatic (physical) diseases. As a side effect of drug use, anxiety and panic disorders can lead to so-called “horror trips”. The danger here comes mainly from substances that trigger hallucinations (LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms) or have an activating, euphoric character (amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy).
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