DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for a Specific Phobia

DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for a Specific Phobia Phobias Symptoms and Diagnosis Print DSM-5 Diagnostic Criteria for a Specific Phobia By Lisa Fritscher Lisa Fritscher is a freelance writer and editor with a deep interest in phobias and other mental health topics. Learn about our editorial policy Lisa Fritscher Updated on January 15, 2020 Science Photo Library / Getty Images More in Phobias Symptoms and Diagnosis Causes Treatment Types A specific phobia is an intense and irrational fear of a specified object or situation. This anxiety disorder affects about 19 million adults and women are two times more likely than men to have a specific phobia.?? Some patients suffer multiple specific phobias simultaneously. Categories of a Specific Phobias There are five types of specific phobias:?? Natural/Environment Type, including a fear of thunder and lightning (astraphobia) or water (aquaphobia)Injury Type, including a fear of the dentist (dentophobia),  or injections (trypanophobia)Animal Type, including dogs (cynophobia), snakes (ophidiophobia), and insects (entomophobia)Situational Type, including washing (ablutophobia) and enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)Other Types, including choking, vomiting, or loud sounds etc. DSM-5 Criteria for a Specific Phobia Diagnosis A fear and a phobia are not the same, so its important to know the difference. Your therapist cannot use a lab test to make a diagnosis so she  and other mental health professionals consult the DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 5th Ed., 2013). This guide provides specific diagnostic criteria for specific phobia from the American Psychiatric Association:?? Unreasonable, Excessive Fear: The person exhibits excessive or unreasonable, persistent and intense fear triggered by a specific object or situation.Immediate Anxiety Response: The fear reaction must be out of proportion to the actual danger and appears almost instantaneously when presented with the object or situation.Recognition the Fear Is Irrational Not Required: In previous DSM editions, adults with specific phobias had to recognize that their fears are out of proportion to reality, but children did not. The 2013 edition now says the adult patient no longer has to recognize the irrationality of their behavior to receive a diagnosis.Avoidance or Extreme Distress: The sufferer goes out of her way to avoid the object or situation, or endures it with extreme distress.Life-Limiting: The phobia significantly impacts the sufferer’s school, work, or personal life.Six Months Duration: In children and adults, the duration of symptoms must last for at least six months.Not Caused by Anoth er Disorder: Many anxiety disorders have similar symptoms. Therefore, your therapist must rule out other disorders before diagnosing a specific phobia. Preparing for the Specific Phobia Intake Interview Have you  decided its time to seek professional help for your fear? In order to make the most of your appointment, and help your therapist determine if you have a fear or a phobia, you can prepare three lists: Symptoms: Make a list of physical and psychological symptoms, including your trigger, how you cope with your fear, and things that make your anxiety better or worse.Personal Life: Make a list of anything stressful going on in your life, including divorce or trouble at work. Listing new situations that seem like a positive thing, including promotion or a budding romantic relationship, is also important as good news can cause anxiety, too.Medication and Supplements: Make a list of all medication and supplements you take regularly, such as vitamins and herbal teas. These substances can affect your mental state and interfere with treatment. Questions to Ask Your Therapist While youre in the therapists office to determine if your fear is a specific phobia, use your time wisely and ask any questions you have. Worried you wont be able to think of any on the spot? Here are some you can use: What options for treatment do you recommend?How can I best manage my other health conditions while in treatment?If I follow the recommended treatment plan, how much improvement can I expect to see?