[1] It is classified as a type of specific phobia, meaning it is evaluated and diagnosed based on the experience of high levels of fear and anxiety beyond what is reasonable when exposed to or in anticipation of exposure to stimuli related to the particular concept (in this case germs or contamination).
[4][medical citation needed] Other research has suggested that mysophobia is associated with poor understanding of microbes and a lack of time spent in nature.
[1] One study conducted by Bajwa, Chaudhry, and Saeed has found an association between pre-diagnosed mental illness and higher rates of severe phobias including mysophobia in women.
[4] In another study, Robinson, Cameron, and Jorgensen argue that immune disorders may have become more common in recent times in part due to a lack of exposure to normal levels of dirt in the household among infants.
[2] In terms of pharmaceutical treatments, beta-blockers and benzodiazepines may be prescribed in severe cases to mitigate panic attacks associated with mysophobia.