Diagnostic classification of fear of childbirth: Why specific phobia may not be enough

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dc.contributor.authorFairbrother, Nichole
dc.contributor.authorKeeney, Cora
dc.date.accessioned2026-05-07T17:31:18Z
dc.date.available2026-05-07T17:31:18Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.abstractBackground: Fear of childbirth (FoB) is a common experience during pregnancy which can cause clinically significant distress and impairment. To date, a number of investigations of FoB have assumed that clinically significant FoB is best understood as a type of specific phobia. However, preliminary evidence suggests that specific phobia may not be the only diagnostic category under which clinically significant symptoms of FoB are best described. Aim: The current study is the first to investigate which DSM-5 diagnostic categories best describe clinically significant symptoms of FoB. Method: Pregnant people reporting high levels of FoB (n = 18) were administered diagnostic interviews related to their experience of FoB. Results: Participants (n = 18) were predominantly nulliparous (73.3%), cisgender women (83.3%). Of these, 14 (77.8%) met criteria for one or more DSM-5 anxiety-related disorders. Preliminary findings suggest that primary FoB may align with specific phobia criteria, whereas secondary FoB (following a traumatic birth) may be better classified under post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). FoB also featured in other anxiety-related disorders but was not the primary focus (e.g. obsessive-compulsive disorder). Four participants did not meet criteria for any DSM-5 disorder. Conclusions: Findings provide preliminary evidence that clinically significant FoB fits within existing DSM-5 categories, in particular specific phobia and PTSD. Although FoB-related concerns appears in other anxiety-related disorder categories, it does not appear as the primary focus. Although informative, due to the small sample employed in this research, replication in larger and more diverse samples is needed.
dc.description.reviewstatusReviewed
dc.description.scholarlevelFaculty
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was funded through the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research’s 2018 Pathway to Patient-Oriented Research (P2P) Award Competition (award no. 17452). Funding was awarded to Dr Nichole Fairbrother.
dc.identifier.citationFairbrother, N., & Keeney, C. (2025). Diagnostic classification of fear of childbirth: why specific phobia may not be enough. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy, 53(3), 289–295. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1352465825000128
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1017/S1352465825000128
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/23846
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBehavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
dc.rightsCC BY
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subjectdiagnostic category
dc.subjectDMS-5
dc.subjectfear of childbirth
dc.subjectpregnancy
dc.subjectSexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Aspiration Research Cluster
dc.subject.departmentSchool of Public Health and Social Policy
dc.titleDiagnostic classification of fear of childbirth: Why specific phobia may not be enough
dc.typeArticle

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