Definition and Impact

A phobia is a persistent fear of an object or situation that is disproportionate to the threat it poses. Phobias can become debilitating when they interfere with daily tasks such as:

• Taking buses, planes, or trains
• Driving
• Shopping
• Leaving the house

Types of Phobic Disorders

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) recognizes three distinct phobic disorders:

• Specific Phobia
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Agoraphobia

Causes and Risk Factors

While the exact cause of phobias is unknown, certain factors appear to increase a person's risk, including:

• Genetics
• Personality traits such as anxiety and neuroticism
• Specific experiences, such as:
  • Having overprotective parents
  • Losing a parent
  • Sexual or physical abuse
  • Trauma related to the specific fear

Age of Onset

The ages at which phobias develop often reflect levels of cognitive development and life experiences. For example:

• Fears of animals are frequent subjects of children’s fantasies.
• Agoraphobia (fear of leaving one’s home or of open places) often follows the development of panic attacks beginning in adulthood.

Treatment

Cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT), combined with exposure therapy, is the leading approach for treating phobias.