A New Finding-peripheral Vision Phobia: A Possible Subtype of Social Phobia

Background and objectives : Social phobia is a nervous anxiety characterized by one or more constant fear in social activity or specific situation which causes serious damage to individual's social functions leading to chronic functional impairment when it is untreated. The objective of this study is to report a new finding of a possible subtype of social phobia according to a case survey and study of sufferers found via online support group. Methods : A single case review using survey and interview on patient was employed. Following a no-treatment baseline period for examination and interview, biweekly acupuncture treatment with interview for in-depth examination was delivered for 6months. Also, for in-depth investigation of peripheral vision phobia, survey questionnaire was done by the members of a Korean support group on on-line social group forum. Result : A new type of social phobia which has not yet been reported nor mentioned in any journals, namely called 'peripheral vision phobia' has been identified. Biweekly acupuncture treatment reached a comfort state of mental status on one case of patient with social phobia. Limitation : Due to the shift of environment on patient's part, the termination of the school session at where the phobia occur the most, the reoccurrence of the phobia is yet to be examined. Also, the generalization of the new type of phobia as a subtype only by reviewing one case alone with survey interview of on-line social group has limitation. Conclusion : The result of the case review suggests that 'peripheral vision phobia' is strictly concentrated on malfunctioning of peripheral vision without functional or organic hindrance of pupils or of any parts of eyes including eye muscles due to peripheral vision phobia. PVP is similar to social phobia and it may be a subtype of social phobia, however, since etiology, diagnosis, medical treatment methods are under researched, investigation is yet to be done.