Katsaridaphobia

Katsaridaphobia is a specific phobia, an abnormal and irrational fear of cockroaches. The reaction goes well beyond ordinary disgust and can bring panic, difficulty breathing, a rapid heart rate and strong avoidance, such as cleaning a home or workplace again and again to keep the insects out. Even a toy or an insect that resembles a cockroach can set it off. The word comes from the Greek katsarida for cockroach and the suffix phobia, and the condition is treated as related to entomophobia, the broader fear of insects. Causes named include frightening childhood encounters, copying a parent's reaction and fear of infestation, and it is more common in people with other anxiety disorders. Exposure therapy is the treatment most widely used, including versions delivered with virtual and augmented reality.