PHTHISIOPHOBIA Meaning and
Definition
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Phthisiophobia is a term derived from the Greek word "phthisis," meaning consumption or wasting away, and the suffix "-phobia," which denotes an irrational fear or aversion. It refers to an intense and unwarranted fear or anxiety of developing or contracting tuberculosis (TB), a highly contagious and potentially life-threatening infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria.
Individuals suffering from phthisiophobia experience persistent and excessive worry about the possibility of contracting TB, often despite having no apparent risk factors or exposure to the disease. This fear can be debilitating and may significantly impair the person's daily life, causing distress, avoidance behaviors, and emotional distress.
The symptoms of phthisiophobia may manifest in various ways, including excessive handwashing or cleaning rituals, avoiding contact with individuals suspected of having TB, hypervigilance regarding symptoms of respiratory illnesses, and persistent thoughts or preoccupations related to tuberculosis. These individuals may also display heightened anxiety in situations or environments perceived as risky or associated with TB transmission, such as hospitals or public transportation.
Treatment for phthisiophobia typically involves a combination of therapeutic interventions, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy. Through CBT, individuals learn to challenge and modify irrational thoughts and beliefs surrounding TB, while exposure therapy gradually exposes them to feared situations in a controlled manner, helping to desensitize their fear response.
Overall, phthisiophobia is an irrational and excessive fear of tuberculosis that can significantly impact an individual's well-being and quality of life.
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An unreasoning fear of consumption or of the consumptive, tuberculophobia.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PHTHISIOPHOBIA
- phthiziophobia
- ohthisiophobia
- lhthisiophobia
- -hthisiophobia
- 0hthisiophobia
- pgthisiophobia
- pbthisiophobia
- pnthisiophobia
- pjthisiophobia
- puthisiophobia
- pythisiophobia
- phrhisiophobia
- phfhisiophobia
- phghisiophobia
- phyhisiophobia
- ph6hisiophobia
- ph5hisiophobia
- phtgisiophobia
- phtbisiophobia
- phtnisiophobia
Etymology of PHTHISIOPHOBIA
The word "phthisiophobia" is a combination of two different origins.
The first part, "phthisio-", comes from the Greek word "phthisis" (φθίσις), which means "consumption". In medical terms, "phthisis" refers to a wasting or progressive pulmonary disease, specifically referring to tuberculosis.
The second part, "-phobia", is a suffix that derives from the Greek word "phobos" (φόβος), meaning "fear" or "terror". "-Phobia" is commonly used as a suffix to form words that represent specific phobias or fears.
Therefore, "phthisiophobia" combines "phthisis" with "-phobia" to refer to the fear or phobia of phthisis or tuberculosis.
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