Definition
Ablutophobia is a relatively uncommon but serious situational specific phobia, characterized by extreme and irrational, persistent, abnormal and unwarranted fear of bathing, washing, or cleaning, that appears to be more prevalent in women and children. (Psora)
Etymology
Latin- ablutere’ to wash off and phobos’ means fear.
Etiology
There is evidence for a familial pattern of phobias. Hypervigilant individuals are more at risk. Phobias develop as a result of-
- A negative experience with the object or situation (Psora/ Syphilis)
- Combination of heredity, genetics, and brain chemistry with life-experiences (Psora/ Syphilis)
- Exhibiting as from watching parents (Psora)
- External events like traumatic events (Causa occasionalis)
- Internal predispositions like heredity or genetics (Syphilis)
- Specific triggering event, usually a traumatic experience at an early age (Causa occasionalis)
Symptoms
The symptoms vary by person depending on their level of fear. The symptoms typically include-
- Chill/hot flushes
- Choking sensation
- Difficulty and shortness of breath
- Dry mouth
- Inability to articulate words or sentences
- Irregular heartbeat
- Nausea
- Rapid breathing
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Trembling
Clinical observations may reveal in a phobic person-
- Ability to identify the reason for the anxiety
- Anxious affect upon abrupt confrontation with the object of the phobia
- Anxious mood
- If comorbid conditions are present, possible suicidal or homicidal ideation
- Neurovegetative signs, such as decreased sleep, appetite, and sex drive, as well as a decrease in motivation
- Preserved insight which is usually impaired, especially during exposure
- Thought content that is significant for phobic ideation, may be unrealistic and out-of- proportion fears
Diagnosis
The mental status examination must include-
- Appearance
- Behavior
- Ability to cooperate with the examination
- Level of activity
- Speech
- Mood and affect
- Thought processes and content
- Insight
- Judgment
The following tests may be needed-
- 24-hour urine for 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA)
- Computed tomography (CT) of the head
- Echocardiography
- Electrocardiography (ECG) and cardiac enzyme tests
- Electroencephalography (EEG) – Seizure disorders as these conditions may mimic anxiety
- Fasting serum glucose
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Positron emission tomography (PET)
- Serum Calcium
- Serum drug screening
- Thyroid function tests
Treatment
Systematic desensitization by relaxation therapy paired with graded exposure is very important tool. Counselling and psychotherapy are also beneficial. Homoeopathic treatment is most effective as it is based on the theory that mental symptoms are of prime importance in treating an individual.
Homoeopathic treatment
Remedies for Ablutophobia adam. aesc. aloe AM-C. am-m. ANT-C. Ant-t. Apis aq-mar. arg-n. arizon-l. ars. asar. aster. bamb-a. bar-c. bar-m. bell-p. bell. borx. bov. Bry. calc-s. calc-sil. Calc. canth. Carb-v. carc. caust. Cham. chel. CLEM. Con. cupr. cycl. dulc. euphr. fl-ac. gast. GELS. glon. ham. Hep. Hyper. IOD. kali-bi. kali-c. kali-chl. KALI-I. kali-m. kali-n. kali-p. kali-s. kali-sil. kola lac-c. lac-cp. lac-e. LACH. Laur. Led. lyc. lyss. mag-c. Mag-m. marb-w. meph. merc. Mez. mur-ac. nat-c. nat-m. nat-p. nat-sil. nit- ac. nux-m. nux-v. op. petr-ra. phos. phys. phyt. plut-n. podo. positr. psil. PSOR. puls. rad-br. RHUS-T. sanguis-s. Sars. Sec. sep. sil. SPIG. spong. stann. Staph. Stront-c. sul-ac. SULPH. sumb. syph. ther. tritic- vg. tung-met. vanil. Zinc.
Short repertory of Ablutophobia
GENERALS – BATHING – Affected part; bathing the plut-n.
GENERALS – BATHING – aversion to bathing aloe AM-C. am-m. ANT-C. aq-mar. bar-c. bar-m. bell-p. Bell. Borx. bov. Bry. calc-s. calc-sil. Calc. Canth. Carb-v. carc. Cham. CLEM. Con. dulc. glon. Hep. kali-c. kali- chl. kali-m. Kali-n. kali-s. kali-sil. Laur. lyc. lyss. mag-c. marb-w. merc. Mez. mur-ac. nat-c. nat-p. nit-ac. nux-m. nux-v. phos. phys. podo. psil. PSOR. Puls. rad-br. RHUS-T. sanguis-s. Sars. SEP. sil. SPIG. stann. Staph. Stront-c. sul-ac. SULPH. syph. tritic-vg. Zinc.
GENERALS – COLD – bathing – desire for cold bathing – warm bathing; with intolerance for lac-cp.
GENERALS – COLD – bathing – desire for cold bathing aloe Apis arg-n. asar. aster. bell. caust. chel. dulc. euphr. fl-ac. Hyper. iod. lac-cp. Led. meph. nat-m. petr-ra. phyt. puls. sep. vanil.
GENERALS – FAINTNESS – steam bath; entering a Apis kali-bi. GENERALS – INJURIES – Nerves – cold bathing agg. bell-p.
GENERALS – TREMBLING – Externally – Feet, on washing merc.
GENERALS – WARM – bathing – agg. – hot bath APIS Arg-n. bamb-a. bell-p. Bell. Bry. Carb-v. GELS. ham. IOD. KALI-I. LACH. NAT-M. op. podo. Puls. Sec. spong. Sulph. tung-met.
GENERALS – WASHING clothes, laundry, ailments from am-c. ant-c. Calc. clem. nit-ac. phos. rhus-t. sep. spig. Sulph. ther.
GENERALS – WEAKNESS – feet, while washing the merc. GENERALS – WEAKNESS – sea-bath, after Mag-m.
GENERALS – WEAKNESS – warm – bathing; after aesc. lac-e. puls.
HEAD – BATHING – cold bathing agg. Ant-c. ars. bry. cycl. glon. lac-c. podo. zinc. HEAD – CONGESTION – Brain – bathing in hot water apis
HEAD – CONSTRICTION – washing agg.; after Ant-t. HEAD – EMPTY, hollow sensation – bathing kola HEAD – PAIN – bathing ant-c.
HEAD – PAIN – warm – washing the hands agg. phos. MIND – ANXIETY – bathing the feet; after nat-c. sep. MIND – ANXIETY – foot-bath; after a nat-c.
MIND – BATHING – aversion to bathe am-c. ant-c. clem. marb-w. nat-sil. positr. rhus-t. sulph. tritic-vg. MIND – BATHING – foot-bath; after lyc. nat-c. nat-m. phos. sep. zinc.
MIND – DISCOMFORT – bathing, after phys. MIND – EXCITEMENT – bath, during gast.
MIND – FEAR – bath; of taking a adam. ant-c. rhus-t. sep. spig. sulph. MIND – FEAR – washed; of being ant-c. sulph.
MIND – FEAR – water, of – washing hair cupr.
MIND – WASHING – aversion to wash Am-c. Ant-c. arizon-l. borx. calc. canth. Clem. kali-n. kali-p. marb-w. mez. nat-sil. nit-ac. podo. positr. psor. Rhus-t. sep. spig. stront-c. Sulph. tritic-vg. MIND – WASHING – feet; after washing nat-c.
MIND – WEEPING – washed in cold water, when ant-c. VERTIGO – WARM – washing agg. sumb.
Bibliography
Anxiety > Phobias Behavioral Medicine: A Guide for Clinical Practice, 4e
Anxiety Disorders > 3. Specific phobias CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Family Medicine, 4e… These phobias involve marked fear or anxiety about a specific object or situation (eg, flying, heights, receiving an injection). …
Chapter 19. Anxiety Disorders > Phobic Disorders: Specific Phobia & Social Phobia CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Psychiatry, 2e
Chapter 21. Obsessive–Compulsive Disorder > Specific Phobias CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Psychiatry, 2e… Specific phobias involve excessive fears of specific situations or circumstances. They often involve fears of situations that others might experience as mildly aversive or anxiety provoking (e.g., contact with snakes or spiders), but the phobic individual has an excessive reaction to those…
Chapter 41. Anxiety Disorders in Children and Adolescents > Avoidant Personality Disorder & Social Phobia CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment: Psychiatry, 2e
Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Disorders & Psychosocial Aspects of Pediatrics > 3. Specific Phobias CURRENT Diagnosis & Treatment Pediatrics, 23e
Depression & Other Mental Health Issues > Social & Specific Phobias Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Geriatrics… Essentials of Diagnosis A phobia is an irrational fear leading to intentional avoidance of a specific feared object, event, or situation. Exposure to this phobic object may result in symptoms similar to those of a panic attack. Patient is aware that his or her fear…
Encyclopedia Homoeopathica
General Topics in Geriatric Psychiatry > Specific phobias and other specified anxiety disorder Hazzard’s Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, 7e… The essence of a specific phobia is fear or anxiety about circumscribed objects or situations that is out of proportion to the actual risk posed, coupled with avoidance behavior. Other specified anxiety disorder is diagnosed when the anxiety features do not meet full criteria for a specific…
Radar 10
The Mental Status, Psychiatric, and Social Evaluations > Phobias DeGowin’s Diagnostic Examination, 10e… These are irrational fears of situations, events, or objects that produce uncontrollable fear and anxiety. Pathological phobias lead to alterations in social or psychological function. …
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© Dr. Rajneesh Kumar Sharma MD (Homoeopathy)