Download Phobias are intense fears about specific places, situations or things

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Running head: PSYCHOLOGY REPORT
Specific Phobia
Sun Mingyu Susie
Lake shore high school
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Running head: PSYCHOLOGY REPORT
Phobias are intense fears about specific places, situations or things and phobias can make
it hard for you to go to places. If you really specifically afraid of something, such as a rat, high
bridges, new place, the situation which happened on you is called Specific Phobia.
Specific Phobia is in Axis I.
In DSM-IV ways to explain specific phobia are as follows:
1. Essential features:
Marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence or anticipation
of a specific object or situation (e.g. flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection, seeing
blood) “Diagnostic, 2013”
2. Associated features:
A. There is unreasonable and extravagant fear exist which is marked and lasting. Usually
it is caused by the presence or anticipation of some specific objects or situation. For example,
high heights, animals, new places or seeing blood.
B. Exposure to the phobic stimulus almost invariably provokes an immediate anxiety
response, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally predisposed Panic
Attack. (In children, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums, freezing, or clinging.)
(Psych Central, 2013) .
3. Information on differentiated diagnosis:
As I found some information on the Internet, the Specific Phobia is belong to mental health.
There are many mental health disorders show similar symptoms. However, to find the
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Running head: PSYCHOLOGY REPORT
differences between specific phobia and other mental health disorders seem very important. Here
is some examples show the differences between them as follows:
A. The differences between specific phobia and psychotic disorders:
There are some patients who have psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia and delusional
disorder, they definitely think that their fears are well-founded and based in reality. However,
adults who have phobias or some other anxiety disorders know their fears are unreasonable and
irrational, and they know that what they worry about is harmless.
B. The differences between specific phobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder:
One same point in both people who have-obsessive disorder and specific phobia is they do avoid
a specific object or situation. However, when they after meet the specific thing, people who have
OCD consistent worrying and dwelling on the fear, even though they leave the place where they
meet the thing. Suffers’ compulsions, that compel them to complete for minimizing their anxiety.
On the other hand, people who have specific phobia typically avoid thinking much about what
they fear unless exposed to it in some way.
C. The differences between specific phobia and generalized anxiety disorder:
The most oblivious difference between generalized anxiety disorder and specific phobia is while
specific phobia is focused on a specific object or situation, generalized disorder is much more
broadly based (Lisa Fritscher, 2009). In addition, they worry things excessively for a much
longer time.
D. The differences between specific phobia and depression:
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Running head: PSYCHOLOGY REPORT
Diverse from people who have specific phobia, suffers who have depression usually do not
actually fear some specific objects or situations. If coerced into participating, they may or may
not enjoy the situation, but they will not show a phobic response (Lisa Fritscher, 2009).
E. The differences between specific phobia and bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is more complex, because there are many specific symptoms, but those
symptoms are not with phobia or other anxiety disorder.
F. The differences between specific phobia and eating disorders
Cibophobia, which is a specific phobia of eating food items, is known as a kind of eating
disorder. Eating disorder, not as the surface meaning, is caused because of overdone moderate
in eating, people who have a eating disorder have a distorted view of his or her body weight and
shape.
It is possible that multiple disorders can be present in a person, and the symptoms can be
similar. So the requirement of diagnosing mental disorders is high. Therefore, it is very
important to see a qualified mental health professional to receive accurate diagnosis and
treatment.
4. Diagnostic criteria
a. Marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable, cued by the presence or
anticipation of a specific object or situation (e.g. flying, heights, animals, receiving an
injection, seeing blood) “Diagnostic, 2013”.
b. Exposure to the phobic stimulus almost invariably provokes an immediate anxiety
response, which may take the form of a situationally bound or situationally pre disposed
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Running head: PSYCHOLOGY REPORT
panic attack. Note: in children, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums,
freezing or clinging “Diagnostic, 2013”.
c. The person recognizes that the fear is excessive and unreasonable. Note: in children this
feature may be absent. “Diagnostic, 2013”
d. The phobic situation is avoided or is endured with intense anxiety or distress “Diagnostic,
2013”.
e. The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared situation(s) interferes
significantly with a person’s routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or social
activities or relationships or there is a marked distress about having the phobia
“Diagnostic, 2013”.
f. In individuals under the age of 18 years the duration is at least 6 months “Diagnostic,
2013”.
g. The anxiety panic attacks or phobic avoidance associated with the specific object or
situation are not better accounted for by another mental disorder such as OCD (e.g. fear
of dirt in someone with an obsession about contamination), post traumatic stress disorder
(e.g. avoidance of school), social phobia, panic disorder with agoraphobia or agoraphobia
without history of panic disorder) “Diagnostic, 2013”.
A case study of specific phobia:
A man named Eric, who specifically fears of flying. As he describes himself is “scared to death
of flying”. The symptoms which presented on him are when he is on a plane, his heartbeats are
so fast and his throat feels tight. He also sweats excessively and he even thinks when a plane is
taking off it must crush because the shake of the plane. And smaller planes, bad weather make
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Running head: PSYCHOLOGY REPORT
him feel worse. He could worry about a plane trip a few months ago before he was due to take it,
and now he doesn’t take any planes anymore, because his fear of taking plans is overwhelming
and he can freak out when he is on a plane.
Eric’s first condition of finding a job is that his job would not involve flying; he will not apply
the jobs which there are chances to take planes. Obviously, he missed several events because of
that, such as his sister’s wedding. Eric just knows his fear of flying is irrational but he just cannot
overcome it.
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Running head: PSYCHOLOGY REPORT
References
Ankrom sheryl, (2009). Multiaxial Diagnostic System of the DSM-IV-TR The Five Axes.
Retrieved from: http://panicdisorder.about.com/od/diagnosis/a/DSMAxis.htm
DSM-IV criteria for 300.29 Specific phobias. Retrieved from:
http://www.anxietyuk.org.uk/about-anxiety/diagnostic-and-statistical-manual-of-mentaldisorders-dsm/
Fritscher Lisa, (2009). Distinguishing a Phobia From Another Mental Health or Anxiety
Disorder. Retrieved from:
http://phobias.about.com/od/relateddisorders/a/distinguishphob.htm
Grohol M. John. (2013). Specific Phobia Symptoms. Retrieved from:
http://psychcentral.com/disorders/specific-phobia-symptoms/
Katz Marina , (2012). Anxiety & Panic Disorders Health Center. Retrieved from:
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/specific-phobias
Recognizing Specific Phobias - Do I Have a Phobia? Retrieved from:
http://www.anxietybc.com/resources/specific.php
Steven J. Seay, Ph.D. (2011). Specific phobias: symptoms & CBT treatment (reader question).
Retrieved from: http://www.steveseay.com/phobias-symptoms-treatment-therapy-cbt/