Fear; dread. Excessive irrational fear of an object or situation—for example, agoraphobia (fear of open spaces and crowded places), acrophobia (fear of heights), and claustrophobia (fear of enclosed places). Behavior therapy is one form of treatment.
A specific phobia is a severe dislike of a particular thing, including objects, animals or situations. Specific phobias start in childhood (particularly animal phobias) and early adulthood. They are more common in women than men.
Complex phobias have more complicated contributing factors and include agoraphobia and social phobia. These phobias are more disabling. Agoraphobia typically starts between the ages of 18 and 28. Social phobia usually onsets between 11 and 16 years.
A general term for all phobias; SYN. phobic disorder, phobic neurosis.