Abnormal psychology phobias test

What defines a specific phobia?

Irrational, intense fear of a specific object or situation that causes avoidance and distress.

Minimum duration for diagnosis

6 months.

Most effective treatment

Exposure-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).

Typical age of onset

Before age 10, with a mean age of around 10.

Phobia subtype causing fainting

Blood-injection-injury type (due to vasovagal response).

More commonly affected gender

Females, approximately 2:1 ratio.

Prevalence in US teens

16%.

Five specifier types

Animal, natural environment, situational, blood-injection-injury, other.

Fear vs. Anxiety

Fear = imminent threat; Anxiety = anticipation of future threat.

Shared risk factor with anxiety disorders

Negative affectivity (neuroticism).

Criteria A

Marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation.

Criteria B

The phobic object or situation almost always provokes immediate fear or anxiety.

Criteria C

The object is actively avoided or endured with intense fear or anxiety.

Criteria D

Fear is out of proportion to actual danger and sociocultural context.

Criteria E

Fear, anxiety, or avoidance lasts 6 months or more.

Criteria F

Causes clinically significant distress or impairment.

Criteria G

Not better explained by another mental disorder.

Temperamental risk factors

Neuroticism and behavioral inhibition.

Environmental risk factors

Traumatic experiences or learned associations.

Genetic risk factor for animal phobia

First-degree relative with same phobia.

Older adult symptom presentation

Through physical symptoms, health complaints, or cognitive changes.

Phobia type with later onset

Situational (e.g., elevators, airplanes).

Percent with multiple phobias

Approximately 75%.

Diagnosis method

Clinical interview, questionnaires, and ruling out other disorders.

Common behavioral treatments

Systematic desensitization and exposure therapy.