Phagophobia

{{Short description|Fear of swallowing}} {{Infobox medical condition |name = |synonym = |image = |image_size = |alt = |caption = |pronounce = |specialty = psychology |symptoms = |complications = |onset = |duration = |types = |causes = |risks = |diagnosis = |differential = }} '''Phagophobia''' is a psychogenic dysphagia, a fear of swallowing.<ref name =shapiro>Shapiro J, Franko DL, Gagne A. Phagophobia: a form of psychogenic dysphagia. A new entity. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 1997; 106: 286-290.</ref> It is expressed in various swallowing complaints without any apparent physical reason detectable by physical inspection and laboratory analyses. An obsolete term for this condition is '''choking phobia''',<ref>McNally RJ. Choking phobia: a review of the literature. Compr Psychiatry 1994; 35: 83-89.</ref> but it was suggested that the latter term is confusing and it is necessary to distinguish the fear of swallowing (i.e., of the propulsion of bolus) from fear of choking.<ref name=shapiro/>

Phagophobia is classified as a specific phobia and according to DSM-IV classification it belongs to the category of "other phobias". Phagophobia may lead to (and be confused with) fear of eating, and the subsequent malnutrition and weight loss. In milder cases a phagophobe eats only soft and liquid foods.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.turkishjournalpediatrics.org/?fullTextId=309&lang=eng |first1= M |last1= Çiyiltepe |first2= T |last2= Türkbay |title= Phagophobia: A case report |journal= The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics |year= 2006 |volume= 48 |issue= 1 |pages= 80–4|pmid= 16562793 }}</ref>

==See also== * Odynophagia * Pseudodysphagia * List of phobias

==Notes==

==References== * {{cite journal |last1= Klinger |first1= RL |last2= Strang |first2= JP |title= Psychiatric aspects of swallowing disorders |journal= Psychosomatics |year= 1987 |volume= 28 |issue= 11 |pages= 572–6 |doi= 10.1016/S0033-3182(87)72455-4 |pmid= 3324155}}

Category:Body-related phobias Category:Esophagus disorders