Phobias

Question 1

What is a phobia?

Answer 1

A common type of psychological disorder

Affects at least 11% of population at some point in their lives

Question 2

What are the most common phobias?

Answer 2

• Agoraphobia (fear of open space)
• Social phobias
• Animal phobias

Question 3

What age do phobias develop?

Answer 3

It depends on each phobia

Social phobias during adolescence, + agoraphobia in early adulthood - suggests cause for each may be different

Question 4

What other disorders do phobias have a high co-occurrence with?

Answer 4

Mood disorders, anxiety disorders

Question 5

What are the specific types of phobias?

Answer 5

• Animal type
• Natural environment type (e.g. heights, storms, water)
• Blood-injection-injury type
• Situational type (e.g. elevators, planes, enclosed spaces)
• Other type (e.g. phobia avoidance of situations that may lead to choking, vomiting, or contracting illness. In children, avoidance of loud noise, costumed characters)

Question 6

What are the 6 points of the diagnostic criteria for specific phobia (DSM-V)?

Answer 6

1. Excessive/unreasonable persistent fear caused by presence of specific object/situation
2. Exposure causes immediate anxiety response
3. Person recognises fear is excessive/unreasonable. This may not be present in children
4. Phobic situation avoided or endured with anxiety
5. Avoidance/distress in situation affects person’s normal routine (work, school, relationships, social activities)
6. Duration is at least 6 months for under 18s

Question 7

How may anxiety be expressed in children?

Answer 7

By crying, tantrums, freezing, or clinging

Question 8

How are phobias acquired based on learning approach?

Answer 8

Through learning from the environment