Anxiety Disorders - Phobias

Question 1

What is an Anxiety Disorder?

Answer 1

Anxiety Disorders give a continuous feeling of fear and anxiety which imposes on daily functioning, and can be triggered by something that may be non-existent and perceived only by the individual.

Question 2

What is a Phobia?

Answer 2

A persistent fear of a particular object or situation, which will provoke an immediate response which may be similar to a panic attack, whereby the individual may feel intense terror and begin to lose control.

Even though the individual knows the fear is irrational, they are still unable to control the immense terror the stimulus produces.

Fear alone is not enough to be diagnosed as a phobia, it must disrupt the individual’s daily life in order to be diagnosed.

Question 3

DSM-IV Classification

Answer 3

Persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable.

Exposure to the stimulus provokes immediate anxiety response.

Phobia has lasted more than 6 months in people under 18 years.

Question 4

ICD-10 Classification

Answer 4

Symptoms must be primary manifestations of anxiety, and not secondary to other symptoms such as delusions.

Anxiety must be restricted to the presence of the particular phobic object/situation.

Phobic situation is avoided wherever possible.