Abstract
This entry discusses the family of anxiety disorders commonly referred to as phobias. It describes phobias as characteristically having a pronounced fear or anxiety response, compelling desire to avoid the target of the phobia, chronic duration, and significant distress or impairment as a result of the phobia. Social phobia, specific phobias, and agoraphobia are each examined separately. The epidemiology, treatment, and implications for phobia diagnoses in the newest version of psychiatric diagnostic manual, the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders are also considered.
Original language | English (US) |
---|---|
Title of host publication | Encyclopedia of the Neurological Sciences |
Publisher | Elsevier Inc. |
Pages | 890-891 |
Number of pages | 2 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9780123851574 |
ISBN (Print) | 9780123851581 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 1 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Agoraphobia
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- D-cycloserine
- Exposure and response prevention
- Panic attack
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
- Shyness
- Social anxiety disorder
- Social phobia
- Specific phobia
- Systematic desensitization
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)