What is the fear of heights known as?

Correct Answer: A. Acrophobia

Acrophobia is the specific phobia characterized by an intense, irrational fear of heights. It is classified under specific phobias in the DSM-5 and ICD-10 (situational type). The term derives from Greek: akron (peak/summit) + phobos (fear). In Indian clinical practice, acrophobia is one of the most commonly encountered specific phobias, particularly in occupational settings (construction workers, window cleaners) and in patients with panic disorder or agoraphobia comorbidity. The fear is typically triggered by exposure to heights and leads to avoidance behavior, anxiety symptoms (palpitations, sweating, dizziness), and functional impairment. According to DSM-5 criteria, the fear must be disproportionate to actual danger, persist for ≥6 months, and cause clinically significant distress. Treatment follows the standard approach for specific phobias: cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure therapy (systematic desensitization or graded exposure), and occasionally SSRIs (sertraline, paroxetine) as adjunctive agents. Indian guidelines (NMHS, ICMR) recognize acrophobia as a treatable anxiety disorder with good prognosis when managed early.

Why the other options are wrong

B. Agoraphobia — Agoraphobia is fear of open or crowded spaces, public places, or situations from which escape is difficult (e.g., markets, public transport, crowds). It is NOT related to heights. This is a common NBE trap because both are anxiety disorders, but agoraphobia typically involves avoidance of public/open spaces rather than vertical elevation. Students confuse them due to both being situational phobias. C. Acarophobia — Acarophobia is fear of mites or parasites (from Greek akari = mite). This is an extremely rare phobia and not a standard DSM-5 diagnosis. NBE includes this as a distractor to test whether students know the correct Greek etymology. The prefix acar- has no connection to heights (akron). D. Algophobia — Algophobia is fear of pain (from Greek algos = pain). It is sometimes seen in chronic pain patients or those with pain-related anxiety disorders, but has no relation to heights. This distractor tests whether students can distinguish between different phobia etymologies and their clinical presentations.

High-Yield Facts

Mnemonics

PHOBIA ETYMOLOGY QUICK CHECK AKRO-phobia = AKRObatics (heights); AGO-raphobia = AGOny in crowds; ALGO-phobia = ALGOrithm of pain; ACAR-ophobia = ACARid mites. Match the prefix to the fear object. HEIGHT PHOBIA TRIAD Acrophobia = Altitude fear; Avoidance of tall buildings/cliffs; Anxiety on exposure. Use the 'A' alliteration to anchor acrophobia.

NBE Trap

NBE pairs acrophobia with agoraphobia (both situational phobias with avoidance behavior) to trap students who confuse the two. The key discriminator is the object of fear: heights vs. open/crowded spaces. Etymology knowledge (akron = peak) is the fastest way to eliminate distractors.

Clinical Pearl

In Indian clinical practice, acrophobia is frequently encountered in occupational health assessments (construction, telecom tower workers) and in patients presenting with panic attacks triggered by height exposure. Early recognition and referral for CBT-based exposure therapy can prevent occupational disability and secondary depression.

_Reference: DSM-5 (Specific Phobia, 300.29); ICD-10 (F40.2); Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, Ch. 418 (Anxiety Disorders); Kaplan & Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry (Specific Phobia section)_