simple phobia

phobia /pho·bia/ (fo´be-ah) a persistent, irrational, intense fear of a specific object, activity, or situation (the phobic stimulus), fear that is recognized as being excessive or unreasonable by the individual himself. When a phobia is a significant source of distress or interferes with social functioning, it is considered a mental disorder (sometimes called a phobic disorder ); in DSM-IV phobias are classified with the anxiety disorders and are subclassified as agoraphobia, specific phobias, and social phobias.pho´bic

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simple phobia  specific p.

social phobia  an anxiety disorder characterized by fear and avoidance of social or performance situations in which the individual fears possible embarrassment and humiliation.

specific phobia  persistent and excessive or unreasonable fear of a circumscribed, well-defined object or situation.

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simple phobia,

an anxiety disorder characterized by a persistent, irrational fear of specific things, such as animals, dirt, light, or darkness. Compare social phobia. See also phobia.

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simple phobia

Specific phobia Psychiatry A phobia characterized by persistent irrational fears of a specific object, activity, or situation Examples Acrophobia, arachnophobia, agoraphobia, brontophobia, claustrophobia, emetophobia. See Phobia.