Mysophobia
Mysophobia is a pathological fear of contamination and germs. The term is derived from the Greek myso meaning "germs" and phobos meaning "fear". It is often related to obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Definition[edit | edit source]
Mysophobia is characterized by an excessive or irrational fear of germs or dirt. This can lead to extreme cleaning habits or avoidance of situations that are perceived as dirty. It is not a diagnosable mental disorder, but rather a specific phobia that can significantly impact a person's quality of life.
Symptoms[edit | edit source]
Symptoms of mysophobia may include excessive washing or cleaning; recurring thoughts about contamination; distress about dirt or germs; avoidance of public places; and fear of physical contact with others. These symptoms can vary in severity and may interfere with daily activities.
Causes[edit | edit source]
The exact cause of mysophobia is unknown, but it is believed to be related to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It may be triggered by a traumatic event, such as a severe illness or infection during childhood.
Treatment[edit | edit source]
Treatment for mysophobia typically involves cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which helps individuals understand and change thought patterns that lead to fear and anxiety. Medications, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), may also be used to help manage symptoms.
See also[edit | edit source]
- Specific phobia
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
References[edit | edit source]
This article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by registering to expand it. |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Kondreddy Naveen