Phobic Disorders

Phobic disorders Clinical Characteristics A phobic disorder involves extreme, persistent and irrational fear with lack of control, which is strongly out of proportion with the danger. ·The feared situations are avoided or responded to with great anxiety ·Possibly recurrent, unexpected panic attacks ·Individual recognises the fear experienced is excessive ·The phobic reactions interfere significantly with the individuals working or social life ·Exposure to the feared stimulus nearly always produces a high level of anxiety Diagnosis …

…normal controls. Panic attack patients differ in the way they interpret their bodily symptoms. Social Factors Kleiner and Marshall (1987) - 84% of agoraphobics had experienced family problems in the months before their first attack. Gerslman et al. (1990) - phobics have low parental affection and more parental control or over - protection: may increase level of anxiety. Evaluation ·Data collection relies on retrospective recall - may be unreliable ·Data is correlational - doesn't demonstrate a casual link.