Phobia
Specific Phobia
- Marked or persistent fear (>6 months) that is excessive or unreasonable cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or situation
- Anxiety must be out of proportion to the actual danger or situation
- It interferes significantly with the persons routine or function
Epidemiology of Specific Phobia
Specific Phobia
- Epidemiology
- Up to 15% of general population
- Onset early in life
- Female: Male 2:1
- Etiology
- Learning, contextual conditioning
- Treatment
- Behavioural, Systematic desensitization
Treatment of Specific Phobia
How Are Specific Phobias Treated?
- Systematic desensitization
- Teach relaxation skills
- Create fear hierarchy
- Pair relaxation with feared objects or situations
- Since relaxation is incompatible with fear, relaxation response is thought to substitute for fear response
- Several types:
- In vivo desensitization (live)
- Covert desensitization (imaginal)