Phobia

A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that causes an individual to

experience extreme, irrational fear about a situation, living
creature, place, or object.

TOP 10 COMMON PHOBIAS

 Claustrophobia: Fear of being in constricted, confined

spaces
 Aerophobia: Fear of flying
 Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders
 Driving phobia: Fear of driving a car
 Emetophobia: Fear of vomiting
 Erythrophobia: Fear of blushing
 Hypochondria: Fear of becoming ill
 Zoophobia: Fear of animals
 Aquaphobia: Fear of water
 Acrophobia: Fear of heights
 Tunnel phobia: Fear of tunnels

Assignment

One of the most important tools for the assessment of specific

phobias is the behavioral approach test (BAT; sometimes
referred to as a behavioral avoidance test or a behavioral
assess- ment test). The BAT involves assessing the features of
a patient's phobia in the context of exposure to the phobic
situation.
Treatment

The best treatment for specific phobias is a form of psychotherapy

called exposure therapy. Sometimes your doctor may also
recommend other therapies or medication. Understanding the
cause of a phobia is actually less important than focusing on how
to treat the avoidance behavior that has developed over time.

The goal of treatment is to improve quality of life so that you're no

longer limited by your phobias. As you learn how to better
manage and relate to your reactions, thoughts and feelings, you'll
find that your anxiety and fear are reduced and no longer in
control of your life. Treatment is usually directed at one specific
phobia at a time.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of specific phobias is based on a thorough clinical

interview and diagnostic guidelines. Your doctor will ask questions
about your symptoms and take a medical, psychiatric and social
history. He or she may use the diagnostic criteria in the
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5),
published by the American Psychiatric Association.

Nursing Management

 Assess the patient if he or she is using projection,

displacement, repression and sublimation.
 Be alert for signs of unrealistic fear of objects, things or
situations.
 Acknowledge the need for the patient to avoid such source
of irrational fear.
 Assist the client has self-awareness so that he or she may
know if his or her reactions were normal or not.
 Avoid forcing the patient to confront the source of his or
her fear.
 Interrupt the patient’s attention to the feared object or
event by things that may preoccupy his or her thoughts.
 Encourage compliance with anti-anxiety medications.
 Encourage the patient that he or she can help himself or
herself.