A persistent, irrational fear of, and desire to avoid, a particular object or situation. Many people have minor phobias. A phobia is considered a psychiatric disorder when it interferes with normal social functioning. Simple phobias (specific phobias) are the most common. These may involve fear of particular animals or situations, such as enclosed spaces (claustrophobia). Animal phobias usually start in childhood, but others develop at any time. Treatment depends on the severity of the condition and the wishes of the individual.
Agoraphobia is a more serious phobia, often causing severe impairment. The disorder usually starts in the late teens or early 20s. Social phobia is fear of being exposed to scrutiny, such as a fear of eating or speaking in public. This disorder usually begins in late childhood or early adolescence.
Causes of phobias are unknown. Simple phobias are thought by some to be a form of conditioning. For example, a person with a fear of dogs may have been frightened by a dog in childhood.
Exposure to the feared object or situation causes intense anxiety and, in some cases, a panic attack. Phobias may be associated with depression or obsessive– compulsive behaviour. Treatment may be with behaviour therapy and sometimes antidepressant drugs.
An irrational fear of particular objects or situations. A well-known American medical dictionary lists more than 200 ‘examples’ of phobias, ranging, alphabetically, from fear of air to fear of writing. Included in the list are phobophobia (fear of phobias) and triskaidekaphobia (fear of having 13 sitting at table).
Phobia is a form of obsession, and not uncommonly one of the features of anxiety. Treatment is behavioural therapy complemented in some patients with ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS. Care is needed, as some sufferers can become psychologically dependent on the drugs used to treat them (see DEPENDENCE). Those who suffer from what can be a most distressing condition can obtain help and advice from the Phobics Society. (See also MENTAL ILLNESS.)
n. a pathologically strong *fear of a particular event or thing. Avoiding the feared situation may severely restrict one’s life and cause much suffering. The main kinds of phobia are specific phobias (isolated fears of particular things, such as sharp knives), *agoraphobia, *claustrophobia, social phobias of encountering people, and animal phobias, as of spiders, rats, or dogs (see also preparedness). Treatment is with *cognitive behavioural therapy, *desensitization, *graded self-exposure, or *flooding. Antidepressants are also useful.
combining form denoting morbid fear or dread.
a disorder of the phobic type in which minor symptoms are interpreted as signs of cancer and panic attacks may occur. As with any other phobic disorder, cancer phobia cannot be treated by appeals to reason. Some success has been achieved by various forms of *behaviour therapy and *SSRIs.... cancer phobia
Health Encyclopedia