Specific phobia

1. Specific phobia increases brain-PAD in humans (β = 1.20, d = 0.14 (95% CI 0.00-0.28), p < 0.05).

   “Post hoc analyses revealed a group difference for formal SPH diagnosis in younger participants (22-35 years; βdiagnosis = 1.20 [0.60], p < 0.05, mixed-effects d [95% confidence interval] = 0.14 [0.00-0.28])”

   Humansformally diagnosed SPH

   Brain Aging in Specific Phobia: An ENIGMA-Anxiety Mega-Analysis

   Human brain mapping·1 Jul 2026

2. Specific phobia has no effect on brain-PAD in humans (β = 0.37 years, SE = 0.43, p = 0.39).

   “No significant group difference in brain-PAD manifested (βdiagnosis [SE] = 0.37 years [0.43], p = 0.39).”

   Humansoverall sample

   Brain Aging in Specific Phobia: An ENIGMA-Anxiety Mega-Analysis

   Human brain mapping·1 Jul 2026

More on brain-PAD

1. Specific phobia increases brain-predicted age difference in humans (β = 1.20 (0.60), p < 0.05, d = 0.14 (95% CI 0.00-0.28)).

   “Post-hoc analyses revealed a group difference for formal SPH diagnosis in younger participants (22-35 years; β diagnosis=1.20 (0.60), p<0.05, mixed-effects d (95% confidence interval)=0.14 (0.00-0.28))”

   Humansformally diagnosed SPH in younger participants

   Brain Aging in Specific Phobia: An ENIGMA-Anxiety Mega-Analysis

   medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·20 Mar 2025Preprint

2. Specific phobia has no effect on brain-predicted age difference in humans (β = 0.37 years (SE 0.43), p = 0.39).

   “No significant group difference in brain-PAD manifested (β diagnosis (SE)=0.37 years (0.43), p=0.39).”

   Humansall participants

   Brain Aging in Specific Phobia: An ENIGMA-Anxiety Mega-Analysis

   medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences·20 Mar 2025Preprint

More on Brain-predicted age difference