Anxiety can come in many forms and guises and this invaluable introduction focuses on specific phobia, social phobia and agoraphobia to give students a thorough overview of how these disorders are diagnosed and treated. The authors explore the impact of these disorders and why they occur, looking at cognitive, social and biological explanations.

Anxiety is a natural part of life – but what happens when everyday anxieties start to dominate our lives, or when we become overwhelmingly anxious about a particular object or situation? In this friendly and engaging introduction, the authors consider these questions by discussing a range of specific and social phobias, along with their symptoms, effects and treatment. Whatever your level of study, this book will help you to develop your understanding of phobias, why they develop and the effectiveness of different treatments.