Specific phobia and comorbid depression: a closer look at the National Comorbidity Survey data
Abstract
Previous studies examining the relationship between specific phobia and major depression have reported mixed findings. The results of some studies have suggested that specific phobia is associated with a higher prevalence of comorbid depression, whereas others have found no association. The purpose of this study was to further examine whether specific phobia is an independent contributor to major depression by using data from the National Comorbidity Survey, a household probability sample of adults (n = 5877) aged 15 to 54 years in the United States. After adjusting for demographic differences and comorbid mental disorders, multiple logistic regression analyses confirmed that specific phobia remains positively associated with comorbid depression (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% confidence interval, 1.6-2.4). Additional analysis found this relationship to be specific to individuals with a fear of heights, animals, and closed spaces, as well as those endorsing at least 2 irrational fears. These results suggest that the types and number of fears play an important role in the probability of lifetime depression.
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BII phobia is associated with psychiatric disorders including other specific phobias and personality, mood, and anxiety disorders.
“It was found to be associated with psychiatric disorders including other specific phobias and personality, mood, and anxiety disorders (10, 31, 36).”
From Combined Fainting and Psychogenic Non-epileptic Seizures as Significant Therapy Hurdles in Blood-Injury-Injection Phobia: A Mini-Review and Case Report (2022) · cites this paper as [36]
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“personality, mood, and anxiety disorders (10, 31, 36).”
- Authors
- Choy, Y., Fyer, A. J., & Goodwin, R. D.
- Affiliations
- New York State Psychiatric Institute (US)
- Corresponding author
- Choy, Yujuan
- Venue
- Comprehensive Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-03
- Volume
- 48
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 132-136
- ISSN
- 0010-440X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1976081356
- Cited by
- 48
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 5.54
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Comprehensive Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- U.S. Public Health Service (MWDA-46376, NWDA-46376)
- National Institute of Mental Health (MH-49098, R01MH049098, T32MH015144)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Keywords
- specific phobia, major depressive disorder, comorbidities, National Comorbidity Survey, fear of heights, animal phobia, irrational fear, lifetime depression, psychiatric comorbidity
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Mental Disorders, Major Depressive Disorder, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Phobic Disorders, Probability, United States, Comorbidity
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