Anxiety Disorders: Social and Specific Phobias

Psychiatry ◽  
2008 ◽  
pp. 1409-1442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randi E. McCabe ◽  
Martin M. Antony
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Specific Phobias

Evolutionary Mechanisms of Fear and Anxiety

2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 317-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan G. Hofmann ◽  
David A. Moscovitch ◽  
Nina Heinrichs
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Social Phobia ◽  
Evolutionary Theory ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Social Comparisons ◽  
Cognitive Factors ◽  
Evolutionary Mechanisms ◽  
Specific Phobias ◽  
Fear And Anxiety

This article examines evolutionary mechanisms in human fear and anxiety, with a particular focus on specific phobias and social phobia. The contribution of evolutionary factors to the development of specific phobias has led to refinements and modifications of earlier conditioning theories. Evolutionary mechanisms further affect cognitive factors of fear and anxiety, such as self-related processes and social comparisons, as in the case of social phobia. Although not without controversy, an evolutionary theory of human fear and anxiety adds a unique perspective that could potentially lead to improved psychopathology models, nosological systems, and treatment strategies for anxiety disorders.

scholarly journals Efficacy of EMDR Therapy for Anxiety Disorders

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 325-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Faretta ◽  
Mariella Dal Farra
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
First Line ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Specific Phobias ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Emdr Therapy ◽  
First Line Treatment

Six randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigated the efficacy of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy for adults with anxiety disorders over a span of 20 years (1997–2017). Three RCTs focused on panic disorder, with or without agoraphobia (PDA); two studies targeted specific phobias, whereas the dependent variable of another RCT was “self-esteem,” considered as a mediator factor for anxiety disorders. In four RCTs, EMDR therapy demonstrated a positive effect on panic and phobic symptoms, whereas one RCT on PDA was partly negative and one study failed in improving self-esteem in patients with anxiety disorders. Considered as a whole, these preliminary data suggest EMDR therapy may be effective not only for PD but also for specific phobias. Further controlled studies are needed to corroborate these findings and also to systematically evaluate the efficacy of EMDR therapy for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, and agoraphobia. Because cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is presently considered a first-line treatment for anxiety disorders, controlled comparisons between EMDR therapy and CBT would be especially useful in future investigations of EMDR treatment of anxiety disorders.

scholarly journals Social Anxiety Disorder

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
S Seedat
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Social Anxiety ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Social Phobia ◽  
Social Anxiety Disorder ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Font Size ◽  
Specific Phobias

<div style="left: 70.8662px; top: 324.72px; font-size: 15.45px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.971046);" data-canvas-width="419.81549999999993">According to epidemiological studies, rates of social anxiety disorder</div><div style="left: 70.8662px; top: 344.72px; font-size: 15.45px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(1.11655);" data-canvas-width="424.26750000000004">(SAD) or social phobia range from 3% to 16% in the general</div><div style="left: 70.8662px; top: 364.72px; font-size: 15.45px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.987995);" data-canvas-width="69.1185">population.</div><div style="left: 139.985px; top: 365.947px; font-size: 9.00733px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.952064);" data-canvas-width="16.423109999999998">[1,2]</div><div style="left: 156.408px; top: 364.72px; font-size: 15.45px; font-family: serif; transform: scaleX(0.977187);" data-canvas-width="334.422">Social phobia and specific phobias have an earlier age</div>of onset than other anxiety disorders.

Specific Fears and Phobias

2001 ◽  
pp. 48-83
Author(s):  
Peter D. McLean ◽  
Sheila R. Woody
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Theoretical Base ◽  
Fear Response ◽  
Empirically Supported Treatment ◽  
Systems Perspective ◽  
Cognitive Components ◽  
Empirically Supported ◽  
Specific Phobias ◽  
Treatment Procedures

This chapter discusses specific fears and phobias, and provides an informational and theoretical base from which will be expanded into more complex anxiety disorders in later chapters. Specific phobias will be considered within a three-systems perspective, including behavioral, physiological, and cognitive components of the fear response. Unique features of some of the specific phobias will be discussed, and empirically supported treatment procedures will be described.

scholarly journals Virtual Reality Treatments for Specific Phobias: A Review

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 135-143
Author(s):  
Sumit Roy ◽  
R Kavitha
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Virtual World ◽  
Psychological Problems ◽  
Controlled Environment ◽  
Virtual Reality System ◽  
Specific Phobias ◽  
Total Immersion

Virtual reality is becoming one of the seamless technology which can be used to treat several psychological problems such as anxiety disorders. With the advancement of technology virtual reality is becoming available to ordinary practitioners to carry out non-clinical therapies. An effective virtual reality system provides the user with total immersion and becomes a part of the virtual world. This study provides an insight as how virtual reality could provide means to overpower anxiety disorders through a controlled environment which is being projected to participants suffering from specific phobias.

Anxiety Disorders in Adults

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter D. McLean ◽  
Sheila R. Woody
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Generalized Anxiety ◽  
Anxious Arousal ◽  
Psychosocial Treatments ◽  
Behavioral Avoidance ◽  
Specific Phobias ◽  
Behavioral Therapies ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapies ◽  
New Treatments

In this title, the authors review psychosocial treatments for anxiety disorders, focusing on the scientific basis and demonstrated outcomes of the treatments. Cognitive-behavioral therapies are highlighted, as they have been the most frequently investigated approaches to treating anxiety disorders. Individual chapters feature specific phobias: social phobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. The book is rich in clinical material and integrates science and clinical practice in an effort to help practitioners to improve the effectiveness of their work with anxious clients. Recently developed psychosocial treatments for anxiety disorders reflect the systematic influence of scientifically generated knowledge, and these new treatments yield strong results. Research in such areas as information processing, cognition, behavioral avoidance, and the physiological components of anxious arousal has increased our knowledge of mediators that cause and maintain anxiety disorders.

Building the Case for Brief Psychointerventions in the Treatment of Specific Phobias in Children and Adolescents

2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 191-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie Flatt ◽  
Neville King
Keyword(s):  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Peer Relations ◽  
Exposure Therapy ◽  
Childhood Anxiety ◽  
Controlled Trials ◽  
Childhood Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Cognitive Behavioural ◽  
Specific Phobias ◽  
Behavioural Therapies

AbstractSpecific phobias are one of the most prevalent childhood anxiety disorders. Research suggests that phobias in children, such as animal or situational phobias, lead to significant impairments in peer relations, social and academic competence. Hence it is imperative to treat phobias within children and adolescents early to avoid more serious, engrained symptoms later in the lifespan. This review focuses on traditional exposure-based cognitive–behavioural therapies, and the more recent one-session exposure therapy for phobia treatment (Ost, 1987), a procedure that has only begun to be administered to children. Further, controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of 1-session exposure therapy with phobic children are urgently required. We also address challenges for researchers using psycho-education to control nonspecific treatment effects.

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