On the Distinction Between Fear and Anxiety in a (Post)Pandemic World: A Commentary on
- PMID: 34908991
- PMCID: PMC8629083
- DOI: 10.36131/cnfioritieditore20200307
On the Distinction Between Fear and Anxiety in a (Post)Pandemic World: A Commentary on
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.
© 2020 Giovanni Fioriti Editore s.r.l.
Conflict of interest statement
Competing interests: None.
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