恐怖症是最常见的可治疗精神疾病之一。[2]Stinson FS, Dawson DA, Chou SP, et al. The epidemiology of DSM-IV specific phobia in the USA: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Psychol Med. 2007;37:1047-1059.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17335637?tool=bestpractice.com在美国,终生患病率在9%-13%,12个月患病率在7%-9%,恐怖症是最常见的焦虑障碍。[2]Stinson FS, Dawson DA, Chou SP, et al. The epidemiology of DSM-IV specific phobia in the USA: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Psychol Med. 2007;37:1047-1059.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17335637?tool=bestpractice.com[3]Kessler RC, Berglund P, Demler O, et al. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62:593-602.http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/208678http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15939837?tool=bestpractice.com[4]Kessler RC, Chiu WT, Demler O, et al. Prevalence, severity, and comorbidity of 12-month DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62:617-627.http://archpsyc.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/62/6/617http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15939839?tool=bestpractice.com有报道称,儿童患病率为 5-8%,[5]Kim SJ, Kim BN, Cho SC, et al. The prevalence of specific phobia and assocatied co-morbid features in children and adolescents. J Anxiety Disord. 2010;24:629-634.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20439148?tool=bestpractice.com[6]Ollendick TH, King NJ, Muris P. Fears and phobias in children: phenomenology, epidemiology and aetiology. Child Adolesc Ment Health. 2002;7:98-106.青少年患病率为 16%。[7]Kessler RC, Petukhova M, Sampson NA, et al. Twelve-month and lifetime prevalence and lifetime morbid risk of anxiety and mood disorders in the United States. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2012;21:169-184.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4005415/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22865617?tool=bestpractice.com年龄更大者患病率较低,为 2-5%。[7]Kessler RC, Petukhova M, Sampson NA, et al. Twelve-month and lifetime prevalence and lifetime morbid risk of anxiety and mood disorders in the United States. Int J Methods Psychiatr Res. 2012;21:169-184.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4005415/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22865617?tool=bestpractice.com[8]Greiner S, Schuurmans J, Goldfarb M, et al. The epidemiology of specific phobia and subthreshold fear subtypes in a community-based sample of older adults. Depress Anxiety. 2011;28:456-463.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21400642?tool=bestpractice.com
在英国,男性和女性的总患病率为18/1000。[9]Collaborating Centre for Mental Health World Health Organisation. WHO Guide to Mental and Neurological Health in Primary Care. Prevalence of mental disorders in men and women. 2nd edition. London:Royal Society of Medicine Press Ltd;2004.
女性患者多于男性,其患病率是男性的2-3倍。[2]Stinson FS, Dawson DA, Chou SP, et al. The epidemiology of DSM-IV specific phobia in the USA: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Psychol Med. 2007;37:1047-1059.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17335637?tool=bestpractice.com[3]Kessler RC, Berglund P, Demler O, et al. Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62:593-602.http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/208678http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15939837?tool=bestpractice.com然而,血液-注射-损伤型恐怖症的患病率并无性别差异。[1]American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, 5th ed., (DSM-5). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing; 2013.[10]Fredrikson M, Annas P, Fischer H, et al. Gender and age differences in the prevalence of specific fears and phobias. Behav Res Ther. 1996;34:33-39.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8561762?tool=bestpractice.com[11]LeBeau RT, Glenn D, Liao B, et al. Specific phobia: a review of DSM-IV specific phobia and proposals for DSM-V. Depress Anxiety. 2010;27:148-167.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20099272?tool=bestpractice.com
恐怖症发病率在西班牙裔和亚洲人群中明显较低,而在白种人中较高。[2]Stinson FS, Dawson DA, Chou SP, et al. The epidemiology of DSM-IV specific phobia in the USA: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Psychol Med. 2007;37:1047-1059.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17335637?tool=bestpractice.com在不同的民族和种族背景下,因文化不同恐怖症的诱因也不同。[12]Arrindell WA, Eisemann M, Richter J, et al. Phobic anxiety in 11 nations. Part 1: dimensional constancy of the five-factor model. Behav Res Ther. 2003;41:461-479.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12643968?tool=bestpractice.com[13]Pull CB. Recent trends in the study of specific phobias. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2008;21:43-50.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18281840?tool=bestpractice.com研究发现,动物恐怖症在日本和中国香港更为普遍。[14]Davey GC, McDonald AS, Hirisave U, et al. A cross-cultural study of animal fears. Behav Res Ther. 1998;36:735-750.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9682528?tool=bestpractice.com
大约70%的特定恐怖症患者报告超过一个临床相关的恐惧。[2]Stinson FS, Dawson DA, Chou SP, et al. The epidemiology of DSM-IV specific phobia in the USA: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Psychol Med. 2007;37:1047-1059.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17335637?tool=bestpractice.com动物和高度往往是最常见的刺激,其次是飞行、密闭空间和血液注射损伤型。[2]Stinson FS, Dawson DA, Chou SP, et al. The epidemiology of DSM-IV specific phobia in the USA: results from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. Psychol Med. 2007;37:1047-1059.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17335637?tool=bestpractice.com