Summary
Definition
History and exam
Other diagnostic factors
- onset during childhood
- onset during early adulthood
- nausea
- dizziness
- disgust
- fainting
- tachycardia
- hyperventilation
- exaggerated startle
- sleep disruption
Risk factors
- somatisation disorder
- anxiety disorders
- mood disorders
- first-degree relative with phobia
- twin with phobia
- aversive experiences
- stress and negative life events
- female sex
- white ethnicity
- parental anxiety and overprotectiveness
- negative affectivity and behavioural inhibition
- cognitive/attentional bias
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- self-report
- behavioural observation and approach tests
Investigations to consider
- structured/semi-structured clinical interview
Treatment algorithm
Contributors
Authors
Instructor of Psychiatry
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Co-Director
Johns Hopkins Hospital Anxiety Disorders Clinic
Johns Hopkins University Medical Institute
Baltimore
MD
Disclosures
AH declares that she has no competing interests.
Dr Amy Huberman would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Eve Friedl, Dr E. Blake Zakarin, Dr Craig N. Sawchuk, and Dr Bunmi O. Olatunji, previous contributors to this topic.
Disclosures
EKF and EBZ declare that they have no competing interests. CNS is an author of a reference cited in this topic. BOO is an author of a reference cited in this topic.
Peer reviewers
Professor
Clinical Training Program
Department of Psychology
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville
AR
Disclosures
JML declares that he has no competing interests.
Associate Professor
Institute of Living
Yale University
New Haven
CT
Disclosures
DFT declares that he has no competing interests.
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