Key Takeaways
Approximately 2% to 13% of the U.S. population will experience as specific phobia during their lifetime, including animal phobia, acrophobia, claustrophobia and blood-injury phobia.
Treatments from the medical and psychological fields to reduce claustrophobic reactions have included virtual and non-virtual treatments, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), relaxation and visualization, and pharmacological treatments.
Occupational confined space exposures include equipment and environments encountered by fire and rescue, search and extrication teams, maintenance personnel, contractors in industrial and commercial employments, and military personnel.
The findings and results of researchers studying how best to reduce claustrophobic reactions in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, especially postural positions, has direct relevance to industrial and engineering designers seeking to reduce claustrophobic anxiety in industrial and construction equipment and environments