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Familial Transmission of Simple Phobias and FearsA Preliminary Report
Abby J. Fyer, MD;
Salvatore Mannuzza, PhD;
M. S. Gallops, MPhil;
Lynn Y. Martin, MS, RN;
Cindy Aaronson, MSW;
Jack M. Gorman, MD;
Michael R. Liebowitz, MD;
Donald F. Klein, MD
Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1990;47(3):252-256.
Abstract
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• Preliminary data from a blind direct interview family study indicate a significantly higher risk for simple phobia among first-degree relatives (n = 49) of simple phobic probands (who had no other anxiety disorder) as compared with first-degree relatives (n 119) of never mentally ill controls (31% vs 11%, relative risk = 3.3). Female relatives were more likely to be affected than male relatives (48% vs 13%), though this difference did not reach conventional significance in an age-corrected analysis. Significant between-group differences were not found in risks for (1) other anxiety, affective, and substance abuse disorders, and (2) simple irrational fears that did not meet disorder criteria. The results suggest that simple phobia is a highly familial disorder that does not transmit increased risk for other phobic or anxiety disorders. The specificity of increased risk among the relatives of simple phobics is consistent with the distinction between simple phobia, social phobia, and agoraphobia. However, complete delineation of the transmissional relationship between these illnesses requires assessment of the extent to which risk for simple phobia can be transmitted by individuals with other phobic or anxiety disorders. Replication of these preliminary findings in larger clinically and epidemiologically selected samples is needed.
Author Affiliations
From the Anxiety Disorders Clinic of the Department of Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute (Drs Fyer, Mannuzza, Gorman, Liebowitz, and Klein; Mr Gallops and Mss Aaronson and Martin), and the Department of Psychiatry, Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons (Drs Fyer, Gorman, Liebowitz, and Klein), New York, NY.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication June 30, 1989.
Reprint requests to New York State Psychiatric Institute, Box 82, 722 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032 (Dr Fyer).
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