The classification of phobic disorders.

The history of classification of phobic disorders is reviewed. Problems in the ability of current classification schemes to predict, control and describe the relationship between the symptoms and other phenomena are outlined. A new classification of phobic disorders is proposed based on the presence or absence of an endogenous anxiety syndrome with the phobias. The two categories of phobic disorder have a different clinical presentation and course, a different mean age of onset, distribution of age of onset, sex distribution, response to treatment modalities, GSR testing and habituation response. Empirical evidence supporting this proposal is cited. This classification has heuristic merit in guiding research efforts and discussions and in directing the clinician to a simple and practical solution of his patient's phobic disorder.