A specific phobia is an intense and irrational fear of a specified object or situation. There are four defined categories of specific phobias: natural, medical, animal and situational. Many people suffer multiple specific phobias simultaneously.
The DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th Ed.) provides specific diagnostic criteria for a simple phobia.
- Marked, Excessive Fear: A persistent and intense fear that is triggered by a specific object or situation.
- Immediate Anxiety Response: The fear reaction appears almost instantaneously when the object or situation is presented. The response may resemble a panic attack.
- Recognition That Fear Is Irrational: Adults with specific phobias recognize that their fears are out of proportion to reality. Children may not have this awareness.
- Avoidance or Extreme Distress: The sufferer goes out of his or her way to avoid the object or situation, or endures it with extreme distress.
- Life-Limiting: The phobia significantly impacts the sufferer’s school, work or personal life.
- Six Months Duration: In children and teens, the symptoms must have lasted for at least six months.
- Not Caused by Another Disorder: Many anxiety disorders have similar symptoms. The therapist will rule out other disorders before diagnosing a specific phobia.
A phobia cannot be diagnosed simply by reading a list of diagnostic criteria. A therapist will use his or her clinical skills and judgment to arrive at the correct diagnosis. If you suspect that you or someone you love may have a specific phobia, contact a qualified professional in your area.
Source:American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th Ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
