A specific object or situation causes marked fear or anxiety.
DSM-5-TR · anxiety disorder
Could I have specific phobia?
Specific phobia is intense fear or anxiety triggered by a specific object or situation. Diagnosis is not based on one isolated impression: DSM-5-TR requires a specific pattern of symptoms, sufficient duration and clinically significant distress or impairment.
≥ 6 months
DSM-5-TR
What are the DSM-5-TR criteria?
The points below summarise the diagnostic requirements that define the disorder.
Diagnostic criteria — paraphrased
The phobic stimulus almost always triggers immediate fear or anxiety.
The object or situation is actively avoided or endured with intense fear.
The fear is out of proportion to the actual danger and sociocultural context.
The pattern typically persists for at least six months.
Fear, anxiety or avoidance causes significant distress or functional impairment.
The presentation is not better explained by another mental disorder, such as agoraphobia, OCD, Autism Spectrum Disorder or a trauma-related disorder.
Diagnostic reference: DSM-5-TR (American Psychiatric Association, 2022). Wording intentionally paraphrased and concise.
The 5 specific-phobia types
Differential diagnosis
Specific phobia or another anxiety disorder?
Specific phobia focuses on a particular stimulus. Social anxiety centres on scrutiny or judgment by others; agoraphobia involves several situations feared because escape or help may be difficult. Fear driven by an obsession or a traumatic memory points toward a different diagnosis.
Clinical assessment
How is the diagnosis made?
Diagnosis is based on clinical interviewing, the history of symptoms, their frequency and duration, the situations that trigger them, and their functional impact. It is also important to determine whether another mental disorder, a substance, medication or medical condition better explains the presentation. Standardised questionnaires can support the assessment.
Anxiety disorders
Explore the other anxiety disorders
Anxiety symptoms can look similar across disorders. A central question is often what triggers the fear and what the person is actually afraid will happen.
Are you trying to understand the nature of your anxiety?
An emotional and personality assessment can help clarify the type and intensity of anxiety, conditions that may look similar, and the most appropriate next steps.
