Phobias

Indefinite long-term monitoring in primary care settings is important as phobic fears and avoidance behaviours may return at any time. Self-directed booster exposure sessions or re-referrals for brief cognitive behavioural therapy may be warranted. The American Psychiatric Association offers self-rated Disorder-Specific Severity Measures for clinically diagnosed specific phobia. APA: DSM-5-TR online assessment measures Opens in new window Both adult and child versions of these measures are available, and they can be useful tools for tracking the severity of patients’ symptoms over time, both to assess treatment efficacy and to identify relapses.