Epidemiological data indicate that anxiety disorders are the most common childhood disorders and phobias are the most common form of anxiety disorders.

To identify the most common phobias in children and adolescents and to determine the prevalence, age distribution, and socio-demographic correlates of phobias.

A cross sectional study

Public and Private schools of the Ministry of Education, State of Qatar

A total of 2188 children and adolescents aged 6 to 18 years were approached and 1703 (77.8%) students participated in this study.

The questionnaire included socio-demographic information, extra curricular activities and hobbies, behaviour at home and various phobic fears. Psychiatrists determined the definitive diagnosis for various phobias by checking and screening their symptoms.

Of the studied subjects, 44% were males and 56% were females. The overall prevalence of phobia in children and adolescents was 19.7%. Among children with phobia, females had higher rates of phobias (62.4% vs 37.6%) than males. Social phobia (12.7%) was the commonest phobia found followed by Agoraphobia (8.6%). Secondary school children were highly afflicted with social phobia (14.9%), agoraphobia (11.7%) and specific phobia (9.6%), while preparatory students (8.3%) were more likely to have’medical’ phobia (fear of physical illness, medical tests and procedures). A significant difference was observed between the age groups in children with agoraphobia (p = 0.002).

The overall prevalence of phobia in children and adolescents in Qatar was higher, with the most common phobias observed being social phobia, agoraphobia and specific phobia.