Disabling Effects

The following would normally be characteristic of a person with mild functional restriction. They may include mild or intermittent symptoms of anxiety, (perhaps precipitated by a life event), worry, mild irritability, mild sleep disturbance and tiredness or mild physical symptoms such as sweating and a dry mouth.

Mobility

A person should not have difficulty safely finding their way around unfamiliar places outdoors although those especially with agoraphobia may feel reassured if accompanied.

However, should the companion not be present, the affected person is unlikely to be unable to find their way around outdoors.

Care

People with mild functional restriction would not normally have any significant functional loss that will result in a reduction of their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Attention to bodily functions is unlikely to be affected by social phobia.

Although very distressing at the time for the person involved, panic disorder is unlikely to put the person or others at risk of danger. Episodes are short lived, and even if frequent during the day are unlikely to prevent the person attending to their own personal care.

The disabling effects of simple phobias are restricted to situations in which the person comes into contact with the object causing acute anxiety, or manoeuvres, which the person undertakes to avoid the stimulus. Simple phobias do not give rise to a need for help with personal care of for supervision out of doors in unfamiliar places.

There is no need for supervision in social situations, since there is no risk of danger to the individual. The person would be able to find their way around in unfamiliar places without help, since there is no confusion, impairment of judgement or difficulty in thinking.

People with agoraphobia are unlikely to have any need for help with personal care. Although people may suffer anxiety symptoms while out, those with less severe symptoms are able to go out and carry out normal tasks like shopping. They have no need for supervision since they are not confused, their memory is normal and concentration is usually normal and unimpaired. Also their ability to communicate with others is not impaired.

Disabling Effects

The following would normally be characteristic of a person with a moderate functional restriction. They may include more severe and chronic symptoms or frequent episodes of severe anxiety. Worry and apprehension, which are difficult to control. Irritability and poor concentration. More severe physical symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, trembling, hyperventilation [over breathing] and more severe sleep disturbance.

Mobility

A person should not have difficulty safely finding their way around unfamiliar places outdoors although those especially with agoraphobia may feel reassured if accompanied.

Should the companion not be present, the affected person is unlikely to be unable to find their way around outdoors.

However, a person with a moderate or severe functional restriction due to Depressive Illness together with associated Agoraphobia may have difficulty finding their way around unfamiliar places and may require support.

Care

People with moderate functional restriction would not normally have any significant functional loss that will result in a reduction of their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. Attention to bodily functions is unlikely to be affected by social phobia.

People with a moderate functional restriction would not normally exhibit significant self-neglect.

Although very distressing at the time for the person involved, panic disorder is unlikely to put the person or others at risk of danger. Episodes are short lived, and even if frequent during the day are unlikely to prevent the person attending to their own personal care.

The disabling effects of simple phobias are restricted to situations in which the person comes into contact with the object causing acute anxiety, or manoeuvres, which the person undertakes to avoid the stimulus. Simple phobias do not give rise to a need for help with personal care of for supervision out of doors in unfamiliar places.

There is no need for supervision in social situations, since there is no risk of danger to the individual. The person would be able to find their way around in unfamiliar places without help, since there is no confusion, impairment of judgement or difficulty in thinking.

People with agoraphobia are unlikely to have any need for help with personal care. Although people may suffer anxiety symptoms while out, those with less severe symptoms are able to go out and carry out normal tasks like shopping. They have no need for supervision since they are not confused, their memory is normal and concentration is usually normal and unimpaired. Also their ability to communicate with others is not impaired.

Disabling Effects

The following would normally be characteristic of a person with a severe functional restriction. They may include very severe and chronic symptoms or frequent episodes of severe anxiety, worry and apprehension that are difficult to control or irritability and poor concentration. More severe physical symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, trembling, hyperventilation [over breathing]. More severe sleep disturbance, perhaps de-personalisation and de-realisation. They may be extremely limited in their social function and are likely to avoid almost all contact and never leave their homes. They may be unable to attend social events and leisure activities.

Mobility

The person may have difficulty finding their way around unfamiliar places and may require guidance as would a person with a moderate or severe functional restriction due to Depressive illness together with associated Agoraphobia or severe Anxiety.

For people with agoraphobia alone, a minority of people have severe disease. Some never leave the house at all, even with a companion, or only go out very occasionally to special events or appointments with an escort. It may be difficult for such people to receive an assessment of their condition and appropriate treatment, unless the mental health team can provide these in the first instance in the person’s home.

Care

People with a severe functional restriction would not normally have such significant functional loss that will result in a reduction of their ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

People with a severe functional restriction would not normally exhibit significant self-neglect. Nor is it likely that the condition would put the person or others at risk of danger.