title: Prevalence, correlates, and comorbidities of four DSM-IV specific phobia subtypes: results from the Korean Epidemiological Catchment Area study.
abstract: Although several studies have detected differences in clinical features among specific phobias, there is a shortage of detailed national data on the on the DSM-IV SP subtypes, particularly in the Asian population. To examine the prevalence, demographic and other correlates, and co-morbidities of DSM-IV SP subtypes in a nationwide sample of Korean adults. We recruited 6510 participants aged 18-64 years for this study. Lay interviewers used the Composite International Diagnostic Interview to assess participants. We analyzed socio-demographics, health-related correlates and frequencies of comorbid mental disorders among participants with SP and each subtypes compared to unaffected adults. The prevalence of lifetime DSM-IV SP was 3.8%, and animal phobias were the most prevalent type of SP. Blood-injection-injury phobia was negatively associated with education, whereas situational phobia was positively associated with education. The strongest mental disorder comorbidity was associated with situational phobia; there is a higher probability of comorbid mood (OR=5.73, 95% CI=2.09-15.73), anxiety (OR=7.54, 95% CI=2.34-24.28), and somatoform disorders (OR=7.61, 95% CI=1.64-35.22) with this subtype. Blood-injection-injury phobia was highly associated with alcohol dependence (OR=9.02, 95% CI=3.54-23.02). Specific phobias are heterogeneous with respect to socio-demographic characteristics and comorbidity pattern. Implications of the usefulness of current subtype categories should continue to be investigated.
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors: Subin
authors: S
authors: Park
authors: Jee Hoon
authors: JH
authors: Sohn
authors: Jin Pyo
authors: JP
authors: Hong
authors: Sung Man
authors: SM
authors: Chang
authors: Young Moon
authors: YM
authors: Lee
authors: Hong Jin
authors: HJ
authors: Jeon
authors: Seong-Jin
authors: SJ
authors: Cho
authors: Jae Nam
authors: JN
authors: Bae
authors: Jun Young
authors: JY
authors: Lee
authors: Jung-Woo
authors: JW
authors: Son
authors: Maeng Je
authors: MJ
authors: Cho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Epidemiology; Korea; Mental disorders; Specific phobia; Subtype