Prevalence of Nosocomephobia – Hospital Related Depression

Aim of research Study: The aim of study was to assess hospital phobia and its variation of depressive symptoms in primary care population. Introduction: Nosocomephobia is the fear of hospitals. It is a fairly common phobia; many people are known to suffer from it. Like that “If I go to a hospital, I’m fairly sure it is a fact that my life is not guaranteed.” Patients are afraid of hospitals, especially the emergency rooms. Hospitals are the mark of cure and health. They even usually result in huge expenses. Most people understand that it is a medical necessity and that one does not and fear must be overcome in case of Nosocomephobia though, the patient simply refuses to go to a hospital and the result often are not desirable including death especially in case of major life threatening conditions. Result: In Primary Care population (PCP) severity of Hospital-phobia is very high. Patients show different depressive symptoms like nausea, loss of appetite, mood swing etc. The result of survey shows that insomnia is the highest number found in depressive patients which is approximately 50% in male patients alone. Female the percentage is slightly low i.e. approximately 40%. Discussion and Conclusion: A survey has been conducted at Karachi to ascertain how many people are suffering from hospital phobia. Our survey result showed that the hospital fear (nosocomephobia) is very common in the biggest city of Pakistan i.e. Karachi. The best way to overcome the nosocomephobia is to change the mindset of the patient through some self-help techniques.


Introduction
The research into the problem of phobic disorders is very extensive. (Beidel, D.C. and Turner, S.M., 2007). A fear of hospitals and doctors is commonly found in the community but is not bounded. When such a fear is become irrational and sufficiently severe situation and health should be the just concerns may arise (Zigmond, A.S. and Snaith, R.P., 1983).
There are fears in common people about hospitals. First of all, it is commonly understood that whenever doctor's advices patient for hospitalization it means the illness is very serious Marks, (I.M. and Gelder, M.G., 1966). Although it is not necessary but people think like that. The second fear of hospital is the expenses occurs this in. Unnecessary tests are advised which resulted in heavy financial burden as well as a painful process (Singh, T.K., Ahmad, A. and Chowdhury, A., 2014).
Nosocomephobia is the fear of hospitals. It is a fairly common phobia; many people are known to suffer from it. Like that "If I go to a hospital, I'm fairly sure It is a fact that my life is not guaranteed." (Pellosmaa, H.B. and Desouky, T.F., 2013) Normally, patient found ways of dealing with a surge of emotions are associated with hospitals. Most people understand that it is a medical necessity and that one does not and fear must be overcome in case of Nosocomephobia though, the patient simply refuses to go to a hospital and the result often are not desirable including death especially in case of major life threatening conditions. (Peters, L., 2000) Symptoms of depression are visible in body, mood and thoughts and that affects the way a person eats, sleeps, self-concern by over thinking. (Hamilton, M.A.X., 1959) Depression is not the same as a passing blue mood. Fear is not a sign of personal weakness. People with depression cannot merely pull themselves together' and get better. (Liebowitz, M.R., 1987) Physicians are unable to detect emotional disorder because they are not confident enough in procedure of detection or patient may think that his complaint was not being taken seriously. The information about this order can be gathered by a Questionnaire which the patient may complete. (Zimmerman, M., McDermut, W. and Mattia, J.I., 2000).
The questionnaire should be simple and should not include reference to abnormal perception. The patient's own views should be considered as he/she is the best judge of his/her state . By this questionnaire, it Zehra Ashraf 28 was considered that the methods usually adopted are prolonged and desired administration by a trained worker, or if short and designed, recognition is necessary for proper diagnostic of the patients then another questionnaire will be made which will distinguish between anxiety and depression and the information collected will be very much helpful and reliable for the patient to know about the disorder for which he was consulting. (Torgersen, S., 1983) Other than this order that is Psychiatric lexicon we have seen some various state of stress like Grief, loss of self-esteem and so on (Fava, M., Rankin 2000). A questionnaire includes all these states would be not much useful for physicians, so physicians focus on loss on pleasure response which is the obligatory state of depressive disorder and this is supposed to be that it is due to disturbance of neurotransmitter mechanism which can be improved by antidepressant medication. These depressive states reduce the ability to experience pleasure. (Malasi, T.H., Mirza, I.A. and El-Islam, M.F., 1991) The goal of study was to assess hospital phobia and its variation of depressive symptoms in primary care population.

Domain of study:
The study of plat was Paris of Asia (Karachi) which is the sizeable and populous city of Pakistan. The 7 th largest and most populous urban agglomeration in the World. Karachi metro has an estimated population of over 23.5 million people as 2013. As the age is essential factor which plays a great role in any research or survey, the depression according to age is also considered and        , 2003). Result of survey shows that insomnia is the highest number found in depressive patients which is 40.2% in male whereas in female it is slightly low i.e. 39.8% The best way to overcome the nosocomephobia is to change the mindset of the patient through some self-help techniques. If you are in phobia never go to hospital alone take some friends with you. In hospital's waiting area read your favorite books or talk with your friends otherwise go to hospital café and enjoy tea/coffee to relax your mind (Brinton, H.G., 2012).

Purpose of study:
Some treatments are also available for nosocomephobia, it is treated with the combination of medicine (Robertson, J.G., 2003). Prescriber prescribes anti-anxiety a medication which helps to decrease the depressive disorders but it is not recommended for long time treatment/use. Some psychotherapy, talk therapy are also recommended. For the facilitations of patients minimize the unnecessary pathological tests which irritate patients which also increase the hospital charges.