What is a phobia?

  Phobia (phobia, phobic neurosis) is a neurological disorder in which symptoms of terror are the main clinical phase. The patient develops intense and unnecessary fear of specific objects, accompanied by avoidance behavior. The object of fear may be single or multiple, such as animals, squares, closed rooms, ascents, or social events. Patients know that their reactions are irrational, but they have difficulty controlling them and they recur. The onset of the disease is more common in youth and old age, and more common in women. Foreign reports of the general population prevalence of 77 & permil;, the average prevalence of surveys around China is about 2 & permil;.  Clinical manifestations: phobia usually acute onset, to face a certain object or situation outbreak of anxiety as a precursor, although the patient knows that this terror is excessive and unnecessary, but can not restrain, not contact or from the object of terror, the performance is normal, therefore, often accompanied by avoidance behavior. Terror objects can be summarized into three categories: a. Situational terror: fear of the streets, squares, public places, high places or secret rooms and other situations, so afraid to go out, and avoid these places.  Second, social terror: the need to interact with people in the situation of fear and strive to avoid, public places afraid to speak, or blush, afraid to look at people with eye contact. Such as talking with people.  Third, simple terror: such as terror of objects such as needles, scissors, knives, pen tips, etc., called sharp-edged terror; terror of cats, dogs, rats, snakes and other animals called animal terror.  Etiology and pathogenesis: the cause of the disease is not known, may be related to the following factors: i. Genetic factors: Slater et al. (1977) reported that 20% of the first-degree relatives of patients, 20% of parents and 10% of siblings suffer from neurosis, that genetic factors may be related to the onset. It has also been pointed out that there is no evidence to date that genetics plays an important role in the development of the disease. Personality traits: The personality before the disease is inclined to be childish, timid, shy, dependent and introverted. Psychological factors: often play a more important role in the development of the disease. For example, someone who is involved in a car accident has a fear of riding in a car. It may be that a situation happens to occur on the background of anxiety, or acute anxiety in a situation and fear of it, and fixed to become the object of terror. The fear of particular objects may be related to parental education, environmental influences and personal experiences (such as being bitten by a dog and fear of dogs). Psychodynamicists believe that terror is the result of the symbolic and substitution effects of repressed subconscious anxiety. The role of conditioned reflexes and learning mechanisms in the development of the disorder is a more convincing explanation.  Treatment:Medication combined with psychotherapy.