Fears, Phobias and Rituals

This book draws on fields as diverse as biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, psychiatry, and ethology, to form a fascinating synthesis of information on the nature of fear and of panic and anxiety disorders. Dr. Marks offers both a detailed discussion of the clinical aspects of fear-related syndromes and a broad exploration of the sources and mechanisms of fear and defensive behavior. Dealing first with normal fear, he establishes a firm, scientific basis for understanding it. He then presents a thorough analysis of the development, symptoms and treatment of fear-related syndromes. Phobic and obsessive-compulsive disorders are examined in detail. The book is illustrated with examples of fear and defensive behavior in other living organisms. By drawing provocative analogies between animal and human behavior, it sheds new light on the origins of fears, phobias, and obsessive-compulsive problems, as well as on their treatment by drugs and psychological means. Clinical psychologists, ethologists, and anyone interested in the mechanisms of behavior will be fascinated by this authoritative study. The text is intriguing and informative, and the bibliography of over 2,100 entries makes it an invaluable reference.

Contenu

NORMAL FEAR: Fear, defense and evolution; Situations which evoke fear; Fear behaviours: The four strategies; Some fear adaptations; ETIOLOGY: Development of fear; Genetics of fear; Physiology of fear; Learning of fear; CLINICAL SYNDROMES: Phobic and obsessive-compulsive phenomena: Classification, prevalence and relationship to other problems; The agoraphobic syndrome (panic disorder with agoraphobia): Social and specific phobias; Traumatic phobias, illness phobias, and children's phobias; Obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD); TREATMENT: Psychological treatment: Principles; Psychological treatment: Clinical issues; Physical treatment of phobic and obsessive-compulsive disorders.