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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric... Nov 1990This article is the presentation of the main phobia data from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) program, with a sample size of n = 18.571. Work on this article was...
This article is the presentation of the main phobia data from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area (ECA) program, with a sample size of n = 18.571. Work on this article was initiated in 1981 at the beginning of the ECA study, but publication has been delayed a decade. Phobias are determined from information from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS), classified according to DSM III. Phobias are found to be the most common psychiatric disorder in the community, more common than major depression or alcohol abuse or dependence in the month prior to interview. The one month prevalence is between 4.0 and 11.1%, with the estimated prevalence in the United States being 6.2%. There were nine community surveys of the prevalence of phobia that pre-dated the ECA studies, which found a wide range of prevalence rates from 1.2% to 26.1%. By far the strongest risk factor associated with phobias is the presence of another psychiatric disorder. Prevalence rates of simple phobia and agoraphobia are found in the ECA studies to be significantly higher in women; social phobia, which is less prevalent, has no significant sex difference. The prevalence rates are higher in younger age groups, and in those with low socioeconomic status (SES). The onset of phobias occurs primarily in the childhood or teenage years, and they tend to be chronic conditions. Less than a quarter of phobics receive treatment.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Agoraphobia; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Middle Aged; Phobic Disorders; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Risk Factors; United States
PubMed: 2291135
DOI: 10.1007/BF00782887 -
Health & Social Work May 2002Social phobia is classified as an anxiety disorder in psychiatric nomenclature. It represents a fear of performance or social interaction that significantly interferes... (Review)
Review
Social phobia is classified as an anxiety disorder in psychiatric nomenclature. It represents a fear of performance or social interaction that significantly interferes with a person's social or occupational functioning. The author takes issue with the fact that social phobia is considered by many professionals to be a mental illness that is often treated best with medication. Social phobia can be conceptualized from a social work perspective as an extreme shyness that can be overcome with cognitive learning and behavioral rehearsal. This article reviews the biopsychosocial causes of social phobia and presents a summary of cognitive and behavioral interventions with empirically demonstrated effectiveness.
Topics: Anxiety Disorders; Behavior Therapy; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Health Services Research; Humans; Models, Psychological; Phobic Disorders; Self Efficacy; Shyness; Social Work, Psychiatric
PubMed: 12079168
DOI: 10.1093/hsw/27.2.137 -
Psychosomatics 1988
Review
Topics: Adult; Arousal; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Models, Psychological; Phobic Disorders; Psychotherapy
PubMed: 3277216
DOI: 10.1016/S0033-3182(88)72419-6 -
European Psychiatry : the Journal of... May 2000
Review
Topics: Combined Modality Therapy; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Personality Disorders; Phobic Disorders; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 10960264
DOI: 10.1016/s0924-9338(00)00240-6 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2021Spiders are mostly harmless, yet they often trigger high levels of both fear and disgust, and arachnophobia (the phobia of spiders) ranks among the most common specific...
Spiders are mostly harmless, yet they often trigger high levels of both fear and disgust, and arachnophobia (the phobia of spiders) ranks among the most common specific animal phobias. To investigate this apparent paradox, we turned to the only close relatives of spiders that pose a real danger to humans: scorpions. We adopted a unique methodology in order to assess authentic emotions elicited by arthropods. Over 300 respondents were asked to rate live specimens of 62 arthropod species (including spiders, scorpions, cockroaches, and other insects) based on perceived fear, disgust, and beauty. We found that species' scores on all three scales depended on the higher taxon as well as on body size. Spiders, scorpions, and other arachnids scored the highest in fear and disgust, while beetles and crabs scored the highest in beauty. Moreover, all chelicerates were perceived as one cohesive group, distinct from other arthropods, such as insects or crabs. Based on these results, we hypothesize that the fear of spiders might be triggered by a generalized fear of chelicerates, with scorpions being the original stimulus that signals danger.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Animals; Arthropods; Cluster Analysis; Emotions; Fear; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Phobic Disorders; Spiders; Surveys and Questionnaires; Young Adult
PubMed: 34782659
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-01325-z -
Depression and Anxiety Dec 2012Investigators have proposed the diagnostic value of a generalized subtype of specific phobia, with classification based upon the number of phobic fears. However, current...
BACKGROUND
Investigators have proposed the diagnostic value of a generalized subtype of specific phobia, with classification based upon the number of phobic fears. However, current and future typologies of specific phobia classify the condition by the nature of phobic fears. This study investigated the clinical relevance of these alternative typologies by: (1) presenting the prevalence and correlates of specific phobia separately by the number and nature of phobia types; and (2) examining the clinical and psychiatric correlates of specific phobia according to these alternative typologies.
METHODS
The National Comorbidity Survey Replication-Adolescent Supplement (NCS-A) is a nationally representative face-to-face survey of 10,123 adolescents aged 13-18 years in the continental United States.
RESULTS
Most adolescents with specific phobia met criteria for more than one type of phobia in their lifetime, however rates were fairly similar across DSM-IV/5 subtypes. Sex differences were consistent across DSM-IV/5 subtypes, but varied by the number of phobic types, with a female predominance observed among those with multiple types of phobias. Adolescents with multiple types of phobias exhibited an early age of onset, elevated severity and impairment, and among the highest rates of other psychiatric disorders. However, certain DSM-IV/5 subtypes (i.e. blood-injection-injury and situational) were also uniquely associated with severity and psychiatric comorbidity.
CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that both quantitative and DSM-IV/5 typologies of specific phobia demonstrate diagnostic value. Moreover, in addition to certain DSM-IV/5 subtypes, a generalized subtype based on the number of phobias may also characterize youth who are at greatest risk for future difficulties.
Topics: Adolescent; Comorbidity; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Logistic Models; Male; Mental Disorders; Phobic Disorders; Prevalence; United States
PubMed: 23108894
DOI: 10.1002/da.22008 -
Depression and Anxiety Dec 2014Dental phobia is part of the Blood-Injection-Injury (B-I-I) phobia subtype of specific phobia within DSM-IV-TR. To investigate the conceptual validity of this...
BACKGROUND
Dental phobia is part of the Blood-Injection-Injury (B-I-I) phobia subtype of specific phobia within DSM-IV-TR. To investigate the conceptual validity of this classification, the purpose of the present study was to determine the co-occurrence of dental phobia, typical dental (and B-I-I related) fears, vasovagal fainting, and avoidance of dental care.
METHOD
Data were collected by an online survey in Dutch twin families (n = 11,213).
RESULTS
Individuals with a positive screen of dental phobia (0.4% of the sample) rated typical B-I-I-related stimuli as relatively little anxiety provoking (e.g. of all 28 fears the stimulus "the sight of blood" was ranked lowest). Presence of dental phobia was significantly associated with a history of dizziness or fainting during dental treatment (OR = 3.4; 95% CI: 1.5-8.1), but of the dental phobic individuals only 13.0% reported a history of dizziness or fainting during dental treatment. Presence of dental phobia (OR = 5.0; 95% CI: 2.8-8.8) was found to be associated with avoidance of dental care, but a history of dizziness or fainting during dental treatment was not (OR = 1.0; 95% CI: 0.8-1.2).
CONCLUSIONS
The present findings converge to the conclusion that dental phobia should be considered a specific phobia subtype independent of the B-I-I cluster within the DSM classification system.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Blood; Dental Anxiety; Dental Care; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Educational Status; Fear; Female; Humans; Injections; Male; Middle Aged; Netherlands; Phobic Disorders; Reproducibility of Results; Syncope; Twins; Wounds and Injuries
PubMed: 23959839
DOI: 10.1002/da.22168 -
The American Journal of Clinical... Apr 2014Specific phobia is the most common and treatable of the anxiety disorders. Exposure-based therapies are the treatment of choice and empirically validated protocols are... (Review)
Review
Specific phobia is the most common and treatable of the anxiety disorders. Exposure-based therapies are the treatment of choice and empirically validated protocols are available that promise rapid and effective results. In many cases, however, patients are reluctant to comply with demanding schedules of exposure, increasing the risk of treatment failure. Furthermore, in clinical practice, patients often present with multiple phobias and other Axis I and Axis II disorders that can further complicate therapy. This article covers four important issues that have been addressed in the literature: (a) managing resistance to treatment, (b) reducing length of treatment, (c) clarifying the optimal application of relaxation training, and (d) applying advances in cognitive neuroscience. These issues are reviewed and recommendations proposed for ways in which to modify current treatments. Specific suggestions are provided for implementing these recommendations including examples of innovative applications of standard hypnotic techniques.
Topics: Aged; Amygdala; Cerebral Cortex; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Combined Modality Therapy; Comorbidity; Defense Mechanisms; Ego; Female; Humans; Hypnosis; Implosive Therapy; Male; Phobic Disorders; Psychotherapy, Brief; Relaxation Therapy; Suggestion
PubMed: 24938078
DOI: 10.1080/00029157.2013.801009 -
Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic 1992d psychological treatments of psychiatric disorders are often wrongly polarized. The related anxiety disorders, panic disorder and social phobia, illustrate the... (Review)
Review
d psychological treatments of psychiatric disorders are often wrongly polarized. The related anxiety disorders, panic disorder and social phobia, illustrate the interdependence of biology and psychology. The author describes current psychodynamic understanding of the factors that contribute to the etiology and pathogenesis of these disorders. He concludes by stressing the value of integrated, psychodynamic treatment.
Topics: Behavior Therapy; Female; Humans; Life Change Events; Male; Panic Disorder; Phobic Disorders; Professional-Patient Relations; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; Psychotherapy; Social Behavior
PubMed: 1623339
DOI: No ID Found -
Psychotherapie, Psychosomatik,... Jun 2007
Review
Topics: Adult; Child; Comorbidity; Humans; Phobic Disorders
PubMed: 17533560
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-970837