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cardiac neurosis

an anxiety reaction precipitated by a heart condition, the suspicion of having a heart condition, or the fear of developing coronary disease. In some cases, a cardiac neurosis develops when the patient detects a harmless heart murmur, palpitations, or a chest pain due to emotional stress. In other cases, it may be caused or aggravated by a physician’s examination (see iatrogenic). Cardiac anxiety is a common symptom of panic disorder; it may also be a focus in hypochondriasis.

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Psychology term of the day

March 17th 2025

paranoid delusion

paranoid delusion

loosely, any of a variety of false personal beliefs tenaciously sustained even in the face of incontrovertible evidence to the contrary. These include delusions of grandeur, delusional jealousy, or, most frequently, delusions of persecution.