Table 3.
Atypical fears and anxieties
| Atypical anxiety | % Total | Examples from sample |
|---|---|---|
| Anxiety around routine, novelty and restricted interests | 22 | In the absence of generalized worry: Anticipatory worry or fear related to minor changes in routine (e.g., new or aberrant traveling routes); changes in daily schedule; excessive worry about losing access to special interest or about rule-breaking |
| Unusual specific fears | 12 | In the absence of a generalized sensitivity to noise or sensory stimuli: Fears of baby crying; coughing; radio jingle; spider webs; happy birthday song; supermarkets; bubbles; balloons; thorns; fire |
| Social fearfulness | 8.5 | In youth who lack an awareness of social judgment: somatic symptoms in social settings; frantic efforts to escape and avoid settings where other persons are present; increased self-injurious and aggressive behavior in social settings |
| Compulsive/ritualistic behavior | 8.5 | In the absence of clear desire to prevent distress or a feared outcome: Mealtime rituals, verbal rituals, insistence on use of specific phrases, insistence that computers be turned off, doors closed, sleeves rolled down, shoes kept on in car |