How specific are specific phobias?
To study the generality of fears among specific phobic individuals and controls, 31 individuals with a DSM-IV diagnosis of specific phobia (natural environmental type: n = 13; blood-injection-injury type: n = 10; and situational type: n = 8) and 33 never mentally ill control subjects participated in an interview and questionnaire study. Based on subjects' fear ratings on the Fear Survey Schedule, subjects were classified as either positive or negative with regard to fear categories that correspond to the five diagnostic subtypes of specific phobia. Phobics showed overall a more generalized form of fear than controls. Furthermore, situational fears were more common among specific phobics who did not meet criteria for specific phobia, situational type, than among controls. These results add to the literature on the functional relationship among different fears and suggest that specific phobias are not as "specific" as is implied by the current diagnostic system.
Hofmann
S G
SG
Center for Anxiety and Related Disorders, Boston University, MA 02215, USA. shofmann@bu.edu
Lehman
C L
CL
Barlow
D H
DH
D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales