Tretman specifične fobije (Kinofobija) kod djece
Treatment of specific phobia (Cynophobia) in children - A case study

Summary/Abstract: A specific phobia is a clinical entity characterized by a conspicuous and persistent fear of clearly visible objects or situations where exposure to them almost always elicits an immediate anxiety response. A person experiences significant, pronounced, and unreasonable fear, when it is present or when the presence of a specific object or situation is expected. Fear of dogs (kinophobia) is an acquired fear and the most common reasons for fear of dogs are: bad experience with the dog, learned attitude and behavior from parents and / or the environment towards dogs, the influence of culture, community and media on the attitude towards dogs. This case study describes a 9-year-old girl with kinophobia who developed through a negative experience with a dog at the age of six. The girl developed an intense fear of the dog accompanied by anxiety symptoms when meeting or expecting to meet the dog with dysfunction in all fields of daily functioning, which persisted despite various parental interventions. She was involved in 11 sessions of cognitive-behavioral treatment. In addition to a number of behavioral techniques, the central role in therapy was played by “live exposure” and cognitive restructuring intended to recognize and change dysfunctional cognitions. The evaluation of the treatment was done 3 months after its completion. The girl as well as her parents reported a significant improvement in the condition, especially in contact with the dog which is in line with scientific research confirming that cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective therapy for treating phobias.

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