Did you know? Phobias may be memories passed down through generations in DNA, according to new research.
Family Studies Suggest a Genetic Link
If a family member has a phobia, you are at an increased risk for a phobia as well.
In general, relatives of someone with a specific anxiety disorder are most likely to develop the same disorder. In the case of agoraphobia (fear of open spaces), however, first-degree relatives are also at increased risk for panic disorder, indicating a possible genetic link between agoraphobia and panic disorder.
Researchers have found that first-degree relatives of someone suffering from a phobia are approximately three times more likely to develop a phobia.
According to the findings, twin studies showed that when one twin has agoraphobia, the second twin has a 39% chance of developing the same phobia. When one twin has a specific phobia, the second twin has a 30% chance of also developing a specific phobia. This is much higher than the 10% chance of developing an anxiety disorder found in the general population.
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