Anxiety Disorders & Clinical Phobias · 90 secs
Emetophobia Screener: Free 12-Item Specific Phobia of Vomiting (SPOV) Test
Do you obsessively check food expiration dates, panic when feeling slight stomach nausea, or avoid travel out of terror of vomiting? Screen SPOV based on Prof. David Veale's SPOVI model.
Scientific Overview
Emetophobia (Specific Phobia of Vomiting / SPOV) is a disabling anxiety disorder characterized by visceral hypervigilance, catastrophic misinterpretation of normal gastric sensations, and exhaustive safety rituals surrounding food and public spaces.
What This Assessment Evaluates
- Measures 3 clinical subscales: Visceral Hypervigilance & Nausea Panic, Contamination & Safety Checking Rituals, and Interpersonal, Travel & Control Avoidance
- Explains the psychosomatic feedback loop between fight-or-flight adrenaline, stomach vasoconstriction, and nausea sensations
- Breaks down how safety behaviors (hoarding antacids, compulsive sniffing) perpetuate chronic fear of throwing up
- Provides evidence-based gradual exposure hierarchy, interoceptive desensitization, and private audio grounding
How to Take This Test
- Answer honestly based on your experience over the past 7 days.
- There are no right or wrong answers; trust your initial emotional reaction.
- Receive your personalized score breakdown, mascot insight, and custom journaling prompts immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does anxiety feel like nausea in emetophobia?
During panic, the sympathetic nervous system diverts blood away from the digestive tract, freezing gastric motility and causing genuine nausea sensations that sufferers mistake for impending vomiting.
Can emetophobia be cured?
Yes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) has high success rates by progressively reducing safety crutches and normalizing bodily sensations.
Medical Disclaimer
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Takes just a minute. Free, anonymous, and no account required to see your initial results.
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