PATHOMANIA Meaning and
Definition
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Pathomania is a noun that refers to an extreme or excessive obsession with or inclination towards suffering, illness, or disease. It is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "pathos" meaning suffering or illness, and "mania" meaning an obsessive or irrational behavior or preoccupation. Pathomania is often used to describe a psychological state or disposition characterized by an abnormal fascination with ailments or a compulsive preoccupation with morbidity and physical health problems.
Individuals exhibiting pathomania may be excessively and continuously preoccupied with their own health or the health of others. They may excessively worry about minor physical symptoms and interpret them as signs of serious illness. Furthermore, pathomania can also manifest as an excessive interest in studying medical conditions, examining symptoms, and constantly researching various diseases, even if they are not experiencing any specific health issues. This intense fixation on illness can lead to hypochondriac tendencies, where the person constantly seeks medical attention for imagined ailments.
Pathomania is often considered an unhealthy obsession because it can negatively impact an individual's quality of life. Constantly dwelling on illness and disease can result in heightened anxiety, depression, and social isolation. Treatment for pathomania typically involves psychotherapy and cognitive-behavioral techniques aimed at addressing the underlying anxieties and developing healthier coping mechanisms.
In summary, pathomania refers to an excessive and irrational preoccupation with illness and suffering. This term provides a framework for understanding individuals who exhibit an abnormal fixation on physical health issues, leading to emotional distress and impairment in their daily functioning.
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Moral insanity, an irresistible impulse to wrong or immoral action.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PATHOMANIA
- oathomania
- lathomania
- 0athomania
- pzthomania
- psthomania
- pwthomania
- pqthomania
- parhomania
- pafhomania
- paghomania
- payhomania
- pa6homania
- pa5homania
- patgomania
- patbomania
- patnomania
- patjomania
- patuomania
- patyomania
- pathimania
Etymology of PATHOMANIA
The word "pathomania" is derived from the combination of two root words: "patho" and "mania".
The root word "patho" comes from the Greek word "pathos", meaning "suffering", "disease", or "feeling". It is commonly used in medical terms to refer to symptoms or conditions related to disease.
The root word "mania" is also derived from Greek and means "madness" or "obsession". It is typically associated with extreme enthusiasm or an abnormal, excessive state of mind.
Combining these roots, "pathomania" is a term used to describe an extreme and abnormal obsession or preoccupation with suffering or disease. It is often used to refer to a psychological or emotional state where an individual excessively focuses on or feels a compulsion to experience or discuss illness or medical conditions.
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