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Vol.6 , No. 4, Publication Date: Aug. 16, 2019, Page: 28-30
| [1] | Anis Rashid, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA. |
| [2] | Smita Saraykar, Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA. |
Needle phobia, the extreme fear of needles and needle procedures is often caused by a painful conditioning experience and maintained by avoidant behavior. Patients with needle phobia simply avoid health care due to fear of needles. Recently recognized as a medical-psychological condition, needle phobia presents a challenge in the treatment of cancer patients, who must undergo regular blood draws and other needle procedures. A detailed history of needle phobia should be taken at face value and patients with a history of vasovagal needle phobia should undergo needle procedures in a medical setting equipped to handle syncopal episodes. Strategies to reduce pain and anxiety during needle procedures are available but underused. Herein, we present the case of a 40 year old cancer patient with extreme needle phobia and describe the subtypes, pathophysiology and management of this condition.
Keywords
Needle Phobia, Immunization, Noncompliance, Syncope, Vasovagal Episode, Anxiety, Cancer
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