Specific phobia

Alternative names:

simple phobia

Definition:

A persistent, irrational fear of an object, activity or situation that compels a person to avoid it, and causes distress and function impairment.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Phobias produce anxiety and often panic that is out of proportion to the actual threat of the feared object or situation. Common simple phobias are those involving animals or insects, a fear of high places, a fear of lightening, a fear of flying, or other fears. These are very common in young children, and do not represent an abnormality.

In most cases, the phobias stem from an actual confrontation with the feared object or situation. In simple phobias, people are able to avoid facing the feared object or situation by anticipating the anxiety. Most simple phobias do not interfere with an individual's normal functioning to the point of seeking treatment. Phobias affect 7% of the population. There is usually no family history of mental illness or of the same phobia.