Editing Specific phobia (section)

== Prognosis ==
The majority of those that develop a specific phobia first experience symptoms in childhood. Often individuals will experience symptoms periodically with periods of remission before complete remission occurs. However, specific phobias that continue into adulthood are likely to experience a more chronic course. Specific phobias in older adults has been linked with a decrease in quality of life.<ref name=":9" /> Those with specific phobias are at an increased risk of suicide. Greater impairment is found in those that have multiple phobias. Response to treatment is relatively high but many do not seek treatment due to lack of access, ability to avoid phobia, or unwilling to face feared object for repeated CBT sessions.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Hendriks SM, Spijker J, Licht CM, Beekman AT, Penninx BW | title = Two-year course of anxiety disorders: different across disorders or dimensions? | journal = Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica | volume = 128 | issue = 3 | pages = 212–221 | date = September 2013 | pmid = 23106669 | doi = 10.1111/acps.12024 | s2cid = 8009247 }}</ref>