Understanding the Fear of Doctors (Iatrophobia)

Medically reviewed by Stephanie Hartselle, MD

Fear of doctors or iatrophobia is a type of anxiety disorder where a person has an extreme fear of doctors.

It's normal to feel nervous about visiting your healthcare provider, but for people with iatrophobia, the fear is so overwhelming that it interferes with their ability to get regular healthcare.

Keep reading to learn more about the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of iatrophobia.

What Is Fear of Doctors?

Iatrophobia is a fear of doctors and/or medical tests. It's a type of phobia known as a specific phobia, which is an acute and irrational fear of a particular object or situation.

Is It Iatrophobia or Normal Anxiety?

It's normal to feel uneasy about a doctor's appointment. And research has shown that it's common for people to put off or otherwise avoid medical care, even when they have symptoms or a known health problem. There are many reasons for this, including concerns about costs and long wait times.

But with iatrophobia, the feelings of fear and anxiety that come up are incredibly intense and disruptive. You may experience physical symptoms such as rapid heartbeat and shortness of breath. Even just thinking about going to the doctor can trigger intense dread.

Symptoms

People with iatrophobia may be so consumed by their fear and anxiety that they worry about visiting a healthcare provider even if they have no scheduled visits. Upon arriving at the medical office, they will likely anticipate the worst and may also experience:

• Sweating

• Shaking

• Crying

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea

• Rapid heartbeat

• Refusal to enter the doctor's office

Causes

The exact cause of specific phobias such as iatrophobia is not well understood, although they may run in families. Iatrophobia can sometimes arise as the result of a traumatic past experience such as:

• Frequent visits to healthcare providers as a child because of a health condition

• Past poor treatment or other negative experience with a healthcare provider

• Upsetting diagnosis received from a doctor, either about yourself or a loved one

• Death of a loved one while they were getting medical care
  

Related Phobias

Iatrophobia is a type of medical phobia. People who have medical phobias have an irrational fear of something that is typically encountered in a medical setting. Other types of medical phobia include:

• Nosocomephobia (fear of hospitals)

• Pharmacophobia (fear of medication)

• Tomophobia (fear of medical procedures like surgery or anesthesia)

• Trypanophobia (fear of needles)

• Fear of the dentist (dentophobia)
  

Other phobias aren't limited to medical settings but can be triggered by certain treatments or procedures. For example:

• Mysophobia or germophobia (fear of germs) may cause someone to avoid places where there may be germs, like hospitals and medical centers

• Nosophobia (fear of disease) may also cause someone to avoid places where illness might spread

• Claustrophobia (fear of enclosed spaces) could cause extreme fear during procedures like an MRI

• Algophobia (fear of physical pain) can cause a person to panic during medical procedures that cause pain or avoid seeking treatment out of fear of pain

• Hemophobia (fear of blood) can cause problems with blood draws or other medical procedures that cause bleeding

• Traumatophobia (fear of injury) may cause someone to avoid specific things they fear will cause injury, such as medical treatment
  

Other people have phobias that may either cause them to delay treatment or seek treatment for imagined symptoms or symptoms that aren't caused by the condition they fear.  For example:

• Carcinophobia (fear of getting cancer)

• Cardiophobia (fear of heart disease or heart attacks)

• Thanatophobia (fear of death)
  

Diagnosis

Specific phobias like iatrophobia are diagnosed by a mental health professional using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The criteria for a specific phobia diagnosis include:

• Persistent and excessive fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation

• Avoidance of the triggering object or situation or, if this is not possible, becoming distressed

• Symptoms that last longer than six months and can't be explained by another mental health condition

• Symptoms that affect your health and quality of life

Treatment

Iatrophobia is often treated with psychotherapy, including:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps you explore your thoughts and behaviors. The goal is to challenge and change thoughts and behaviors that are unhelpful and unhealthy.

Exposure Therapy

Exposure therapy gradually exposes you to the object or situation that triggers your fear. You may be taught relaxation techniques to help you manage the emotions that come up.

Hypnotherapy

Another type of therapy to consider is hypnotherapy. During a session, a therapist will help guide you into a relaxed, trance-like state and will then help you change problematic thinking patterns.

Medication

Your healthcare provider may also suggest medication such as an antianxiety medication or an antidepressant. These medications can't cure the condition, but they can help treat the symptoms.

Coping with a Fear of Doctors

Most people need to see a doctor from time to time. If you are afraid to see your doctor, it could cause you to delay treatment for medical conditions. This could lead to easily treatable conditions causing long-term health problems or serious conditions going untreated altogether.

It can be especially hard to overcome a fear of doctors because you may avoid seeking care from all healthcare providers, including a therapist who specializes in treating specific phobias. If you aren't able to discuss your condition with a therapist, there are some things you can do to help you take the first steps toward seeking help. For example:

• Talk to a trusted friend or family about your fears. Ask them to help you connect with a therapist and accompany you to appointments.

• Stay active. Get plenty of exercise and try practicing meditation or yoga. These activities have been shown to help reduce symptoms in people with anxiety disorders.

• Look for a therapist who specializes in specific phobias and start by making a telephone or telehealth appointment.

• Be kind to yourself. Understand that you may have to take a lot of small steps before you start making real progress.

• Take time to mentally prepare yourself before your appointment. Mindfulness exercises can help.

• Look for a healthcare provider who has more time to spend with patients, dresses casually, or works in an office that is not part of a hospital or medical center.

• Use distractions to get your mind off of upcoming appointments, such as listening to music, walking, or reading.

• When visiting a doctor, tell them about your fears upfront.

• Consider telehealth for any initial appointment with a healthcare provider or when a physical exam may not be required.
  

Summary

Iatrophobia is a type of anxiety disorder marked by an intense fear of visiting the doctor. This phobia can cause you to avoid going to the doctor's at all costs, which can have a significant negative impact on your health. The exact cause of iatrophobia is unknown, although heritability, having learned the behavior, and having had past negative experiences with a doctor could play a role.

Treatment for phobias like iatrophobia include cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure therapy. Hypnotherapy and medications such as anti-anxiety drugs may also be helpful.

Read the original article on Verywell Health.