acrofobie

Acrofobie, or acrophobia, is an anxiety disorder characterized by an excessive or irrational fear of heights. It is categorized as a specific phobia and can lead to significant distress and avoidance of situations involving height, such as tall buildings, bridges, ladders, balconies, or looking down from a high place.

People with acrofobie may experience a range of anxiety symptoms when confronted with heights, including rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, dizziness, nausea, and a sense of losing control or falling. In severe cases, even imagining heights or being near an edge can trigger these symptoms. The fear is disproportionate to the actual danger and causes impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.

Causes of acrofobie are believed to arise from a combination of genetic, neurobiological, and environmental factors. A predisposition toward anxiety, heightened amygdala reactivity, and learned responses from negative experiences with heights, such as a fall or near-accident, may contribute to the development of the condition. Some individuals have a family history of phobias, suggesting a hereditary component.

Diagnosis is typically made by a mental health professional through clinical assessment. Criteria align with those for specific phobias: a persistent, excessive fear lasting six months or more, avoidance or distress in height-related situations, and clinically significant impairment not better explained by another condition.

Treatment is commonly based on cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure-based techniques, including graded or systematic desensitization and, increasingly, virtual reality exposure. Medications may be considered for comorbid anxiety or depression or when symptoms are severe, though therapy is generally preferred. With appropriate treatment, many individuals reduce avoidance and regain ability to navigate environments involving heights.