phobic disorder
- noun
- /ˈfoʊbɪk dɪsˈɔrdər/
- Specialized
:
trastorno fóbico
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy can be effective in treating phobic disorder by helping individuals confront their fears.
Examples
-
Many people struggle with phobic disorder, making it difficult for them to participate in social gatherings.
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Also, Hayward et al. (1997) indicated that girls entering early sexual maturation had a higher risk of developing bulimia, phobic disorders, and depression.
Academic text (2004) -
She was diagnosed with a phobic disorder that prevented her from traveling due to her fear of flying.
Synonyms
57
5.1
A very strong, unreasonable fear of a specific thing or situation
12
4.3
A mental health problem that makes someone feel very worried most days and affects daily life
3
4.6
A condition that changes a person's thoughts, feelings, or behavior and causes problems in life
A strong, unreasonable fear of a specific thing or situation that causes great worry
How Fearful
- Specialized
3
5.1
- Specialized
- Specialized
57
5.1
∞
1.0
290
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'phobic' (experiencing an irrational fear) modifies 'disorder' (a diagnosed condition), yielding a condition characterized by an extreme/unreasonable fear. This adjective+noun combination follows standard transparent word-formation patterns (and has clear parallels in other languages), so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can reliably infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Phobic disorder comes from the parts phobic (meaning 'very afraid') and disorder (a 'problem' in feelings or behavior); imagine someone so scared of elevators or dogs that they avoid them completely, which is why the term means a strong, often unreasonable fear.