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. 2020 Jun;17(3):189-191.
doi: 10.36131/cnfioritieditore20200307.

On the Distinction Between Fear and Anxiety in a (Post)Pandemic World: A Commentary on

Affiliations

On the Distinction Between Fear and Anxiety in a (Post)Pandemic World: A Commentary on

Alexandre Heeren. Clin Neuropsychiatry. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Taking stock of the global mental health challenges created by the global COVID-19 pandemic, Schimmenti, Billieux, and Starcevic (2020) recently provided, in this journal, a radically new theoretical framework for conceptualizing the experience of fear during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this commentary, I reflect on the implications of Schimmenti and colleagues' sole focus on fear, without taking into account the notion of anxiety. I argue that the conceptual and functional distinction between fear and anxiety may further strengthen the theoretical foundations of Schimmenti and colleagues' model. Finally, I discuss how such a distinction can ultimately help at better identifying new clinical targets not only for psychological interventions but also for policy recommendations.

Keywords: COVID-19; anxiety; coronavirus; fear; global mental health; pandemic; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None.

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