FreeMD® Acrophobia Definition

Acrophobia

Definition

Acrophobia Definition

Common names:

Acrophobia
Fear of Heights

What is acrophobia?
A person with acrophobia has a fear of heights. Phobias may trigger panic attacks. Common phobias include fear of open spaces, fear of closed spaces, and fear of heights.

What are the symptoms of acrophobia?
Symptoms of acrophobia can result in severe anxiety or panic attacks.

How does the doctor treat acrophobia?
Acrophobia is treated with psychological counseling.

Related Conditions

Agoraphobia
Anxiety disorder
Anxiety
Panic attacks
Phobias
Social phobia
Stress reaction

Anxiety

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Last Updated: Jun 2, 2009 References

Authors: Stephen J. Schueler, MD; John H. Beckett, MD; D. Scott Gettings, MD

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Acrophobia References:

Kendler KS, Myers J, Prescott CA. The etiology of phobias: an evaluation of the stress-diathesis model. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2002 Mar;59(3):242-8.
Mineka S, Ohman A. Phobias and preparedness: the selective, automatic, and encapsulated nature of fear. Biol Psychiatry. 2002 Nov 15;52(10):927-37.
Muris P, Merckelbach H, de Jong P, Ollendick TH. The etiology of specific fears and phobias in children: a critique of the non-associative account. Behav Res Ther. 2002 Feb;40(2):185-95.