Epidemiology

Phobias are among the most common and treatable psychiatric conditions.[3] Lifetime prevalence in the US is between 9% and 13%, and 12-month prevalence is between 7% and 9%, making phobias the most common of all anxiety disorders.[3][4][5] Prevalence rates of 5% to 8% are reported in children and 16% in adolescence.[6][7][8] Rates are lower among older adults, ranging from 2% to 5%.[8][9]

Women are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop phobias than men.[3][4][10]

The odds of developing phobias are significantly less among Hispanic and Asian people and greater among white people.[3] Culture-specific phobic cues are possible among people of varying ethnic and racial backgrounds.[11][12] Animal fears are found to be more prevalent in Japan and Hong Kong.[13]

Approximately 70% of specific phobics report more than one clinically relevant fear.[3] Animals and heights tend to be the most common stimuli, followed by flying, enclosed spaces, and blood-injection-injury.[3]

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