Psychology Department TDC 1 Specific Phobia Dr Aparna
Psychology Department TDC – 1 Specific Phobia Dr. Aparna Pathak
• A specific phobia is an unrealistic or extreme fear of a specific situation, object, or setting. For example, one may have a fear of medical or dental visits, heights, flying, elevators, germs, or spiders. • The DSM-5 divides specific phobias into five broad categories: • Animals, such as a fear of spiders, dogs, or bugs • The natural environment, such as heights or thunderstorms • Blood, injury, and injection, such as a fear of needles or medical procedures • Situational, such as a fear of flying or riding in elevators • Others, such as a fear of vomiting or choking
Factors of Specific Phobia People with specific phobias often know there is no real reason to be afraid and that their behavior is not logical. However, they may simply feel powerless when faced with the fear, and even the anticipation of it can cause intense anxiety. While the exact cause is unknown, certain factors and personality traits appear to increase one's risk of developing specific phobia disorder. Neuroticism and frequent worries and negative thoughts may also increase the risk. Certain specific experiences can elevate the risk as well, such as having overprotective parents, losing a parent, sexual or physical abuse, and trauma related to the specific fear. Genetics may also play a role; individuals who have a first-degree relative with a specific phobia are more likely to have that same specific phobia.
Prevalence The 12 -month community prevalence estimate for specific phobia is approximately 7%-9%. Prevalence rates in European countries are largely similar to those in the United States (e. g. , about 6%), but rates are generally lower in Asian, African, and Latin American countries (2%-4%). Prevalence rates are approximately 5% in children and are approximately 16% in 13 - to 17 -year-olds. Prevalence rates are lower in older individuals (about 3%-5%), possibly reflecting diminishing severity to subclinical levels. Females are more frequently affected than males, at a rate of approximately 2: 1, although rates vary across different phobic stimuli. That is, animal, natural environment, and situational specific phobias are predominantly experienced by females, whereas blood-injection-injury phobia is experienced nearly equally by both genders.
Diagnosis A. Marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (e. g. , flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood). • Note: In children, the fear or anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or clinging. • B. The phobic object or situation almost always provokes immediate fear or anxiety. • C. The phobic object or situation is actively avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety. • D. The fear or anxiety is out of proportion to the actual danger posed by the specific object or situation and to the sociocultural context. • E. The fear, anxiety, or avoidance is persistent, typically lasting for 6 months or more.
Treatment • Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is a leading therapy approach for treating specific phobia disorder. CBT interventions help change thinking and behaviors that cause distress in specific situations. • Exposure treatment is usually included with CBT. In exposure therapy, a therapist generally guides the patient toward gradual real or virtual exposure to the object or situation feared, sometimes paired with relaxation exercises. Virtual reality has shown promise as a delivery tool for exposure therapy, and may offer an opportunity to reach more people with accessible and affordable care. • Medications such as beat-blockers are sometimes used to reduce anxiety, primarily in the short-term, such as when a feared situation is necessary or unavoidable.
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