Nyctophobia

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Nyctophobia (from Greek νυξ nic-to-pho-bi-a: “night” and phobia, also called scotophobia, from σκότος – “darkness”, lygophobia, from lyge – “twilight”, or noctiphobia) is a pathological fear of the dark.

Sufferers have an abnormal and persistent dread of the dark and experience anxiety even though they may rationally understand that the dark does not pose such a great threat. Treatment options are typical for any of specific phobias.

Nyctophobia is most often associated with children.

Nyctophobia is the pinnacle in the plot of the short story “Nightfall” by Isaac Asimov.

de:Nyktophobie et:Nüktofoobia he:ניקטופוביה sv:Skotofobi