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Marked and persistent fear that is excessive or unreasonable,
cued by the presence or anticipation of a specific object or
situation (e.g., flying, heights, animals, receiving an injection,
seeing blood).
Exposure to the phobic stimulus almost invariably provokes an
immediate anxiety response, which may take the form of a
situationally bound or situationally predisposed Panic Attack. Note:
In children, the anxiety may be expressed by crying, tantrums,
freezing, or clinging.
The person recognizes that the fear is excessive or unreasonable.
Note: In children, this feature may be absent.
The phobic situation(s) is avoided or else is endured with
intense anxiety or distress.
The avoidance, anxious anticipation, or distress in the feared
situation(s) interferes significantly with the person's normal
routine, occupational (or academic) functioning, or social
activities or relationships, or there is marked distress about
having the phobia.
In individuals under age 18 years, the duration is at least 6
months.
The anxiety, Panic Attacks, or phobic avoidance associated with
the specific object or situation are not better accounted for by
another mental disorder, such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
(e.g., fear of dirt in someone with an obsession about
contamination), Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (e.g., avoidance of
stimuli associated with a severe stressor), Separation Anxiety
Disorder (e.g., avoidance of school), Social Phobia (e.g., avoidance
of social situations because of fear of embarrassment), Panic
Disorder With Agoraphobia, or Agoraphobia Without History of Panic
Disorder.
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