Prednisonephobia.

The use of chronic systemic corticosteroids in allergic diseases should be restricted to cases where these agents are essential. Potentially fatal asthma and idiopathic anaphylaxis are examples of essential need for prednisone. The usual dose requirements on an alternate day regimen are often modest in these diseases, and complications of steroid therapy are minimal and are of no major concern particularly when the alternative may be a fatality. In spite of these facts, certain patients have a phobic response to the requirement for prednisone therapy. We report seven cases of prednisonephobia and classify this phobia as interpersonal, iatrogenic, bibliophilic, or parental. Some of these phobic reactions may seriously interfere with medical management or patient survival. An information sheet is included which may help certain of these patients.