Recent trends in the study of specific phobias.
OBJECTIVE
Specific phobias are prevalent and often disabling anxiety disorders. The present review examines relevant investigations that have been published during the last 2 years on major aspects of this group of disorders.


RESULTS
Recent studies have come mainly from epidemiology, brain imagery and cognitive-behavioral therapy, including virtual reality exposure therapy.


CONCLUSIONS
Studies published in the last 2 years confirm the high prevalence of specific phobias in the general population and provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the fear reaction after exposure to a phobic stimulus.
Pull
Charles B
CB
Department of Neurosciences, Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg, Luxembourg. pull.charles@chl.lu
D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003214:Conditioning, Classical / Q000502:physiology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003887:Desensitization, Psychologic; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005239:Fear / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*