Agliophobia or Algofobia . It is defined as a persistent, abnormal and unwarranted fear of pain .
Summary
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- 1 Agliophobia
- 2 Causes
- 3 Treatment
- 4 Virtual reality
- 5 Related phobias
- 6 Sources
Agliophobia
The fear of pain is a universal feeling that every individual has experienced at some point. However, when this rejection becomes abnormal, persistent and unjustified, it is defined as algophobia. According to the International Association for the Study of Pain (AIED), there is a very high percentage of people who feel an uncontrolled fear of feeling or experiencing situations that could cause suffering.
This fear usually triggers a series of psychological and physical reactions, such as extreme vigilance, muscular tension or avoidance attitude. There is scientific evidence of these and other reactions, which more than help solve the cause, contribute to perpetuating the pain, according to a study by Belgian researchers.
Algophobia becomes an obstacle for those who suffer from it, who even deprive themselves of experiences that others see naturally, such as pregnancy , going to the dentist or doctor or participating in certain sports activities for fear of injury .
One of the most feared environments is the dentist’s office. It is estimated that 1 in 4 people suffers from odontophobia, according to a study published in July in the journal Ciencia y Saúde Colectiva, carried out by researchers from the University of Pernambuco ( Brazil ). In Sweden , the public health system covers the care of these patients in a specialized center, when they meet a degree of severe distress .
Many chronically ill also experience algophobia, a reaction that leads to tension, anguish, and sometimes even physical immobility.
Causes
Many of the people with fear of pain develop this phobia after a traumatic experience in which they were subjected to persistent and severe suffering. Another group of patients with this uncontrolled rejection of suffering are those who had a bad experience with improper treatment or in a medical consultation. At other times, the fear is due to the image or idea that the patient has about physical pain, which may have been created based on comments, images or bibliographic sources to which they have had access.
Treatment
Listening to music benefits patients before and after surgery. Hearing melodies can help reduce anxiety , stress, and fear of pain. So scientists have determined School of Medicine, University of Athens , according to an article published in September in the journal Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
The authors explain that they have investigated the contributions of music in anesthesiology and assure that its use can be a complementary method for the treatment of preoperative stress and for the management of acute and chronic pain.
The researchers conclude that music can function as a mild anxiolytic and that its effectiveness depends on the disposition of each patient and the severity of the pain.
Virtual reality
The use of virtual reality games in 3D is one of the techniques recommended by SEAS specialists to ‘forget’ pain. As Julia Vidal, psychologist responsible for the Pain Area of this Society, explains, the use of virtual reality allows the patient to focus their attention elsewhere, which in this case could be a game , so that the brain is distracted, since this organ is incapable of attending intensely to two things at the same time.
The positive influence of virtual reality on the decrease in pain perception has been proven in various studies. Last year the journal ‘Studies in Health Technology and Informatics’ published a study carried out by the University of Barcelona in which it was observed that participants who were distracted by the use of virtual reality –and especially if they interacted with the program– reported a less intense perception of pain.
In Spain , a virtual reality system called ‘Isla Calma’ was presented, developed by the company Nesplora, which serves to distract patients when they undergo procedures that are annoying or in front of which it is usual to suffer fear of pain, such as it occurs with some medical treatments, minor surgery , certain diagnostic tests, and so on.
This program , which lasts three hours, allows patients to interact with a relaxing setting –there are 8 in total–, using 3D glasses and a wireless controller. The use of this software is especially recommended during dental treatments, interventions that are practiced with local anesthesia , during annoying or painful diagnostic tests, such as a biopsy , as well as in pain units and for patients who follow chronic treatments.
