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As the makers of blockbuster movies like The Birds, Jaws and Arachnophobia well know, animal fears are the most commonly reported phobias. Some 6 percent of Americans suffer from diagnosable animal phobia at any given time, and 11 percent will experience an episode at some time in their lives. Nearly three quarters of animal phobia sufferers are women, and most symptoms of animal phobia come on in childhood. Since most people with animal phobias experience panic attacks when they encounter certain animals, these fears can cause victims to lose significant quality of life. Fortunately, specific phobias are among the most responsive of anxiety disorders to behavior therapy, the research-proven treatment adapted for self-help readers in this book. Readers first learn about their phobia, where it comes from, what factors influence it, and how best to prepare for treatment. Then they learn to confront and overcome their animal and insect phobia. These techniques are effective and fast. The book includes information about avoiding relapse and helping someone else who suffers from an animal phobia. --- from the publisher About the Authors Martin M. Antony, Ph.D., is professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University, and he is chief psychologist and director of the Anxiety Treatment and Research Centre at St. Joseph's Healthcare. Both of these institutions are in Hamilton, ON. He has published fourteen books and more than eighty scientific papers and book chapters treating cognitive behavior therapy and anxiety disorders. He has received early career awards from the Society of Clinical Psychology (American Psychological Association), the Canadian Psychological Association, and the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, and is a fellow of the American and Canadian Psychological Associations. He is past president of the Anxiety Disorders Special Interest Group of the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy and has been program chair for the AABT annual convention. He is actively involved in clinical research in the area of anxiety disorders, teaching, and education, and he maintains a clinical practice. His Web site may be found at www.martinantony.com. Randi E. McCabe, Ph.D., is chair of the Clinical Behavioural Sciences Programme in the Faculty of Health Sciences and assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON. She is also associate director of the Anxiety Treatment and Research Centre at St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton, ON. She has published numerous scientific papers and book chapters in the areas of cognitive-behavioral therapy, anxiety disorders, and eating disorders. She is on the editorial board of The Clinical Psychologist and has been assistant chair of the Program Committee for the Association for Advancement of Behavior Therapy annual convention. She is actively involved in clinical research, teaching, and education, and she maintains a private practice. |
