Phobias: Specific Phobia Symptoms
The formal diagnosis of specific phobia, or simple phobia, rests on these symptoms, which can be evaluated by psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.
Symptoms of Specific Phobia
According to the DSM, “The essential feature of Specific Phobia is marked and persistent fear of clearly discernible, circumscribed objects or situations” (p. 443). The following specific diagnostic criteria are reproduced verbatim (except for codings and page references) from the DSM-IV TR (where ‘IV TR’ indicates fourth edition, text revision), pages 449-450.
Diagnostic Criteria for Specific Phobia
A. Marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation (e.g., flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing blood).
B. Exposure to the phobic stimulus almost invariably provokes an immediate anxiety response, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally predisposed Panic Attack. Note: In children, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or clinging.
C. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable. Note: In children, this feature may be absent.
D. The phobic situation(s) is avoided or else is endured with intense anxiety or distress.
E. The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared situation(s) interferes significantly with the person’s normal routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or social activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about having the phobia.
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F. In individuals under age 18 years, the duration is at least 6 months.
G. The anxiety, Panic Attacks, or phobic avoidance associated with the specific object or situation are not better accounted for by another mental disorder, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (e.g., fear of dirt in someone with an obsession about contamination), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (e.g., avoidance of stimuli associated with a severe stressor), Separation Anxiety Disorder (e.g., avoidance of school), Social Phobia (e.g., avoidance of social situations because of fear of embarrassment), Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia, or Agoraphobia Without History of Panic Disorder.
Sections Available
- Anxiety Disorders
- Acute Stress Disorder Symptoms
- Agoraphobia Without History of Panic Disorder
- Causes of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder and Other Anxiety Disorders
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
- OCD: Symptoms of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Panic Attacks and Agoraphobia: Underlying Symptoms
- Panic Disorder Symptoms
- Phobias: Specific Phobia (Simple Phobia) Symptoms
- PTSD: Symptoms of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder) Symptoms
All clinical material on this site is peer reviewed by one or more qualified mental health professionals. This specific article was originally published by Dr Greg Mulhauser, Managing Editor on .
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