Trypophobia: an investigation of clinical features

Abstract

Objective: Trypophobia refers to the fear of, or aversion to, clusters of holes. We assessed clinical features of trypophobia and investigated whether it most resembled a specific phobia or obsessivecompulsive disorder. Methods: An online survey was conducted to gather information on sociodemographic variables, course and duration, severity, associated features, comorbid psychiatric diagnoses, and levels of psychological distress and impairment in individuals with trypophobia. The survey also explored whether such individuals experienced more fear or disgust, and whether symptoms showed more resemblance to a specific phobia or to obsessive-compulsive disorder. Associations of symptom severity and duration with degree of impairment were investigated. Results: One hundred and ninety-five individuals completed the questionnaire. Symptoms were chronic and persistent. The most common associated comorbidities were major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. Trypophobia was associated with significant psychological distress and impairment. The majority of individuals experienced disgust rather than fear when confronted with clusters of holes, but were more likely to meet DSM-5 criteria for specific phobia than for obsessivecompulsive disorder. Symptom severity and duration were associated with functional impairment. Conclusions: Given that individuals with trypophobia suffer clinically significant morbidity and comorbidity, this condition deserves further attention from clinicians and researchers.

Involuntary protection against dermatosis: A preliminary observation on trypophobia

“…According to the IPAD hypothesis, observers experience negative emotions on being exposed to trypophobic objects so that they can involuntarily avoid them because contagious skin diseases have a common visual pattern that is similar to that observed in trypophobic objects. This notion is supported by empirical data indicating that trypophobia is related to core disgust (i.e., emotional avoidance of pathogen infection) [ 6 , 7 ]. Briefly, based on the IPAD hypothesis, we experience negative emotions from trypophobic objects because their surface is associated with skin diseases, and thus, the avoidance reaction to the pathogen occurs.…”

Trypophobia as an urbanized emotion: comparative research in ethnic minority regions of China

“…In particular, Imaizumi et al (2016b) showed that core disgust (i.e., emotional avoidance of pathogen infection) sensitivity and positively predicted the TQ score. This finding indicates that disgust contributes to trypophobia, and other findings also support this idea (Kupfer & Le, 2018;Vlok-Barnard & Stein, 2017). Based on these studies, proposed the "involuntary protection against dermatosis" (IPAD) hypothesis.…”

Trypophobia: What Do We Know So Far? A Case Report and Comprehensive Review of the Literature

“…Vlok-Barnard and Stein ( 18 ) studied whether trypophobia resembles more specific phobias or obsessive-compulsive disorder. They studied socio-demographic factors, severity of psychological distress, etc., and whether trypophobic stimuli trigger either fear or disgust more often.…”