Needle Phobia¶

The Fear of Needles and Injections¶

Phobic Properties¶

Needle phobia is one of the BII-phobias (Blood-Injection-Injury), which have slightly different symptoms to other phobias. Whereas most phobias increase blood pressure, BII-phobias decrease it, causing fainting. Also, most phobias increase heart rate and BII-phobias cause a spike at the beginning but then lead to bradycardia. BII-phobias are also considered more hereditary than other phobias.

Connection to Virtual Reality¶

Research on needle phobia has shown that VR can easily bring about the arousal necessary for treatment to occur, but no study was found that had the objective of treating needle phobia. VR is still regularly used to assist people with needle or dental phobia, but as a diversion tactic rather than a method of treatment.