Table 3:
12-month prevalence and persistence of specific phobias in adults in three longitudinal studies
| ECA65 | NCS31 | NESARC23 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline prevalence | Persistence at 1 year | Persistence at 12 years | Baseline prevalence | Persistence at 10 years | Baseline prevalence | Persistence at 3 years | |
| Animals | 8·6% (04) | 12% | 14% | 4·9% (0·3) | 25% | 3·7% (0·2) | 15% |
| Heights | 6·9% (0·4) | 20% | 11% | 4·3% (0·4) | 38% | 3·4% (0·1) | 17% |
| Storms* | 3·9% (0·3) | 14% | 8% | 2·4% (0·3) | 25% | 1·5% (0·1) | 14% |
| Water* | 4·0% (0·3) | 17% | 6% | 2·8% (0·3) | 25% | 1·9% (0·1) | 11% |
| Flying† | 3·0% (0·3) | 12% | 6% | 2·9% (0·3) | 37% | 2·3% (0·1) | 16% |
| Crowds | 1·9% (0·2) | 9% | 28% | ·· | ·· | 1·2% (0·1) | 19% |
| Closed spaces | 2·5% (0·2) | 6% | ·· | 3·5% (0·4) | 34% | 2·4% (01) | 17% |
| Blood‡ | ·· | ·· | ·· | 3·6% (0·3) | 28% | 1·6% (0·1) | 15% |
| Dentist‡ | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 0·5% (0·1) | 14% |
| Hospital‡ | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | ·· | 1·8% (0·1) | 12% |
Baseline prevalence (in 12 months preceding initial interview) is shown as % (SE). Persistence is defined as occurrence in the 12-month period preceding the follow-up interview among patients who met the criteria for the disorder in the 12 months preceding the baseline interview. ECA=Epidemiologic Catchment Area. NCS=National Comorbidity Survey. NESARC=National Epidemiologic Survey of Alcohol and Related Conditions.
NCS assessed fear of storms and water together at 10-year follow-up.
ECA assessed fear of flying together with other forms of public transportation at baseline and 1 year.
NCS assessed fear of blood and injections together with fear of dentists, doctors, and hospitals.