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. 2023 Oct;26(5):713-715.
doi: 10.1007/s00737-023-01362-9. Epub 2023 Aug 7.

Tocophobia: a nosological quagmire

Verinder Sharma  1   2   3 , Sapna Sharma  4
Affiliations

Tocophobia: a nosological quagmire

Verinder Sharma et al. Arch Womens Ment Health. 2023 Oct.

Abstract

Fear of childbirth exists on a continuum of severity, and the most severe form is commonly referred to as tocophobia. Although a rare entity, tocophobia is a common reason for requesting an elective cesarean section. It is generally considered a specific phobia but is not recognized by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as a diagnostic entity. To improve the assessment and treatment of tocophobia, research is warranted to clarify its relationship with commonly occurring psychiatric disorders in pregnancy.

Keywords: Anxiety; Childbirth; Diagnosis; Post-traumatic stress disorder; Tocophobia.

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