Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Coping
Nosophobiais an intense, persistent fear of getting sick or having a specific medical disorder.
While many people experience anxiety about their health, people with nosophobia can’t control their fear. They’re often afraid of developing a specific disease or condition, such asheart disease,cancer, orsexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Learn more about the fear of getting sick, including traits, symptoms, causes, and how to seek treatment when necessary.
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People with nosophobia experience anxiety around a particular medical condition. They may fear conditions that are frequently discussed in the media, such as AIDS during the 1980s and COVID-19 in 2020.Fears about heart disease and cancer are also common.
Nosophobia is categorized as aspecific phobiaunder the umbrella category ofanxiety disordersin the fifth edition of the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders” (DSM-5). A specific phobia involves an overwhelming fear of an object or situation.Examples of other specific phobias are the fear of heights (acrophobia) and the fear of small spaces (claustrophobia).
Most of the symptoms of nosophobia, like other specific phobias, are similar to symptoms of otheranxiety disorders. However, this type of anxiety about getting sick differs from other health anxieties likeillness anxiety disorder(previously known as hypochondria).
Symptoms of Nosophobia
Specific features of nosophobia that make it unique from other health anxieties:
Nosophobia vs. Illness Anxiety Disorder
Nosophobia is sometimes confused withillness anxiety disorder, which was previously known as hypochondria or hypochondriasis. However, there are important differences between nosophobia and illness anxiety disorder:
People with illness anxiety disorder might think they’re sicker than they are when they have few or minor symptoms. They might rush to their healthcare provider, assuming they’re sick when they have no symptoms at all. They also typically don’t believe a healthcare provider who tells them they’re not sick.If you suspect you have either nosophobia or illness anxiety disorder, your healthcare provider can help you reach the correct diagnosis.
Common Phobia Symptoms
Most of the symptoms of nosophobia, like other specific phobias, are similar to symptoms of otheranxiety disorders. The symptoms of nosophobia may include:
Anxiety and Depression Overlap: Link Between Comorbid Disorders
There are various possible causes for the development of nosophobia, including comorbid mental health conditions (occurring simultaneously with nosophobia), environmental factors, and personal history. These are some of the most common causes of nosophobia:
How Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Is Diagnosed
A qualified mental health professional can diagnose you with nosophobia based on the criteria for specificphobiasin theDSM-5. To be considered a specific phobia, your fear of getting sick must meet the following conditions:
Ruling Out Alternatives to NosophobiaBefore you seek treatment from a mental health professional for nosophobia, your healthcare provider should rule out any possible physical illness. If you’re having symptoms that worry you, you can talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns.
Ruling Out Alternatives to Nosophobia
Before you seek treatment from a mental health professional for nosophobia, your healthcare provider should rule out any possible physical illness. If you’re having symptoms that worry you, you can talk to your healthcare provider about your concerns.
Since nosophobia is an anxiety disorder, treating someone’s underlying anxiety through other methods can also help. For example, prescriptionanti-anxiety medicationorantidepressantsmay provide relief.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or talk therapy, can also help. The following types may be used for nosophobia:
Lifestyle Changes
Additionally, some of the following techniques can help manage anxiety about disease:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy(CBT), a type of psychotherapy, or talk therapy, is usually the preferred treatment for nosophobia. A therapist can help someone with nosophobia identify negative thought patterns about their health in order to change them. They can also help to target unwanted behaviors, such as avoidance behaviors, and work to change them over time.
Everything You Need to Know About Choosing the Right Psychotherapist
In addition to mental health treatment, other coping methods can help you manage your intense fear of getting sick:
Summary
Nosophobia is a lasting and intense fear of getting sick. It’s a type of anxiety disorder known as a specific phobia, which is a persistent fear of a certain object or situation. You might have nosophobia if you experience symptoms such as panic attacks andinsomniafor six months or more in response to your fear of a specific illness or disease.
The causes of nosophobia might include past traumatic medical events, exposure to media coverage of epidemics or other serious health problems, and/or reading about medical conditions at work or in school. People withgeneralized anxiety disorder (GAD)and other mental health conditions are also at risk of developing nosophobia. The most common treatment for nosophobia is CBT.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sirri L, Grandi S.Illness behavior.Adv Psychosom Med. 2012;32:160-181. doi:10.1159/000330015Heiat M, Heiat F, Halaji M, et al.Phobia and fear of COVID-19: origins, complications and management, a narrative review.Ann Ig. 2021;33(4):360-370. doi:10.7416/ai.2021.2446Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison.Scarella TM, Boland RJ, Barsky AJ.Illness Anxiety Disorder: Psychopathology, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment.Psychosom Med. 2019 Jun;81(5):398-407. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000691Johns Hopkins Medicine.Specific phobias.Department of Veterans Affairs.Prolonged exposure (PE) for PTSD.Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School.Tips for beating anxiety to get a better night’s sleep.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sirri L, Grandi S.Illness behavior.Adv Psychosom Med. 2012;32:160-181. doi:10.1159/000330015Heiat M, Heiat F, Halaji M, et al.Phobia and fear of COVID-19: origins, complications and management, a narrative review.Ann Ig. 2021;33(4):360-370. doi:10.7416/ai.2021.2446Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison.Scarella TM, Boland RJ, Barsky AJ.Illness Anxiety Disorder: Psychopathology, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment.Psychosom Med. 2019 Jun;81(5):398-407. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000691Johns Hopkins Medicine.Specific phobias.Department of Veterans Affairs.Prolonged exposure (PE) for PTSD.Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School.Tips for beating anxiety to get a better night’s sleep.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Sirri L, Grandi S.Illness behavior.Adv Psychosom Med. 2012;32:160-181. doi:10.1159/000330015Heiat M, Heiat F, Halaji M, et al.Phobia and fear of COVID-19: origins, complications and management, a narrative review.Ann Ig. 2021;33(4):360-370. doi:10.7416/ai.2021.2446Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison.Scarella TM, Boland RJ, Barsky AJ.Illness Anxiety Disorder: Psychopathology, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment.Psychosom Med. 2019 Jun;81(5):398-407. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000691Johns Hopkins Medicine.Specific phobias.Department of Veterans Affairs.Prolonged exposure (PE) for PTSD.Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School.Tips for beating anxiety to get a better night’s sleep.
Sirri L, Grandi S.Illness behavior.Adv Psychosom Med. 2012;32:160-181. doi:10.1159/000330015
Heiat M, Heiat F, Halaji M, et al.Phobia and fear of COVID-19: origins, complications and management, a narrative review.Ann Ig. 2021;33(4):360-370. doi:10.7416/ai.2021.2446
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Table 3.11, DSM-IV to DSM-5 specific phobia comparison.
Scarella TM, Boland RJ, Barsky AJ.Illness Anxiety Disorder: Psychopathology, epidemiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment.Psychosom Med. 2019 Jun;81(5):398-407. doi: 10.1097/PSY.0000000000000691
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Specific phobias.
Department of Veterans Affairs.Prolonged exposure (PE) for PTSD.
Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School.Tips for beating anxiety to get a better night’s sleep.
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