Workplace Phobia

Background: Anxiety is a stimulus-bound phenomenon. Workplaces are complex stimuli which are especially prone to provoke anxiety. Workplace phobia is defined as a phobic anxiety reaction with symptoms of panic occurring when thinking of or approaching the workplace. People suffering from workplace phobia regularly avoid confrontation with the workplace. Method: This article reviews recent findings on workplace phobia and offers a conceptual framework for understanding the specific clinical value of this domain-specific disorder. Results: Little empirical research is published on workplace phobia. Recent findings support the assumption that workplace phobia can be distinguished differential diagnostically from conventional anxiety and other mental disorders. Workplace phobia is in a special way related to (long-term) sick leave. Conclusions: Among the spectrum of mental disorders, workplace phobia has an own clinical value which is mainly defined by its specific negative consequences for occupational participation. Workplace phobia requires special therapeutic attention and treatment instead of purely “sick leave” certification. In primary medical care and psychotherapeutic and socio-medical practice, the diagnosis of workplace phobia should be used explicitly in order to better communicate the problem (German J Psychiatry 2009; 12: 45-53).