Specific phobias: ~5%[1] Social phobia: ~5%[6] Agoraphobia: ~2%[6]
A phobia is an anxiety disorder, defined by an irrational, unrealistic, persistent and excessive fear of an object or situation.[7][8][9][1] Phobias typically result in a rapid onset of fear and are usually present for more than six months.[1] Those affected go to great lengths to avoid the situation or object, to a degree greater than the actual danger posed.[1] If the object or situation cannot be avoided, they experience significant distress.[1] Other symptoms can include fainting, which may occur in blood or injury phobia,[1] and panic attacks, often found in agoraphobia and emetophobia.[6] Around 75% of those with phobias have multiple phobias.[1]
Phobias can be divided into specific phobias, social anxiety disorder, and agoraphobia.[1][2] Specific phobias are further divided to include certain animals, natural environment, blood or injury, and particular situations.[1] The most common are fear of spiders, fear of snakes, and fear of heights.[10] Specific phobias may be caused by a negative experience with the object or situation in early childhood.[1] Social phobia is when a person fears a situation due to worries about others judging them.[1] Agoraphobia is a fear of a situation due to perceived difficulty or inability to escape.[1]
It is recommended that specific phobias be treated with exposure therapy, in which the person is introduced to the situation or object in question until the fear resolves.[2] Medications are not helpful for specific phobias.[2] Social phobia and agoraphobia may be treated with counseling, medications, or a combination of both.[4][5] Medications used include antidepressants, benzodiazepines, or beta-blockers.[4]
Specific phobias affect about 6–8% of people in the Western world and 2–4% in Asia, Africa, and Latin America in a given year.[1] Social phobia affects about 7% of people in the United States and 0.5–2.5% of people in the rest of the world.[6] Agoraphobia affects about 1.7% of people.[6] Women are affected by phobias about twice as often as men.[1][6] The typical onset of a phobia is around 10–17, and rates are lower with increasing age.[1][6] Those with phobias are more likely to attempt suicide.[1]
^ abcdefghijklmnopqrstuAmerican Psychiatric Association (2013), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.), Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing, pp. 190, 197–202, ISBN 978-0890425558
^ abcdeHamm AO (September 2009). "Specific phobias". The Psychiatric Clinics of North America. 32 (3): 577–591. doi:10.1016/j.psc.2009.05.008. PMID 19716991. S2CID 5458941.
^Straight A's in Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. A Review Series. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 2006. p. 172. ISBN 9781582554488. OCLC 61247134.
^ abcd"Anxiety Disorders". NIMH. March 2016. Archived from the original on 27 July 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
^ abPerugi G, Frare F, Toni C (2007). "Diagnosis and treatment of agoraphobia with panic disorder". CNS Drugs. 21 (9): 741–764. doi:10.2165/00023210-200721090-00004. PMID 17696574. S2CID 43437233.
^ abcdefgAmerican Psychiatric Association (2013), Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.), Arlington: American Psychiatric Publishing, pp. 204, 218–219, ISBN 978-0890425558
^National Institute of Mental Health. "Specific Phobia". National Institute of Mental Health. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
^Health Scotland (4 January 2023). "Coping with fears and phobias". NHS inform. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
^National Health Service (27 July 2022). "Phobias". nhs.uk. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
^"Specific Phobias". USVA. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
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