Do you know these “ghostly” medical conditions?

Who’s afraid of the Ghost Month? Apparently, many are. In many Eastern and Southeast Asian countries, the seventh lunar month, which often falls within August, is the time when the souls of our dearly departed leave the gates of hell to pay us a visit. During this period (for 2025, it starts on August 23 and ends September 21), we are advised to put off making major decisions like starting a business, buying a house, postponing medical treatments, or getting married to avoid upsetting restless spirits.

 

But what if the “ghosts” aren’t supernatural entities but conditions that manifest in real, yet often misunderstood, ways? In a different vein, people diagnosed with “ghostly” conditions face numerous challenges as they live with their unusual (but real!) disorders.

 

Jon Edward B. Jurilla, MD from top hospital in the Philippines Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) enumerates four “ghost”-related conditions and how they are treated.

 

Phasmophobia is defined as the extreme and irrational fear of ghosts. Pop star Lady Gaga, who reportedly had phasmophobia, was said to have spent $50,000 on a device that detects ghosts in a room. Those with this condition manifest the disorder through an elevated heartrate and blood pressure, intense anxiety, and difficulty sleeping. “In fact, some fear darkness and nighttime. Being alone or sleeping alone is a frightening thought,” reveals Dr. Jurilla. Behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and relaxation techniques are effective in addressing this phobia.

 

Ghost sickness supposedly happens when the spirit of a recently deceased loved one supposedly attaches itself to a member of the living, thus sucking the life out of them or causing them harm. A common belief among Polynesians and Native Americans, this disorder presents itself through lethargy, nightmares, hallucinations, nausea, and a loss of appetite.

 

“Medications can ease the symptoms, but not the ‘ghost sickness’ itself, or the belief that a ghost is behind the symptoms,” explains Dr. Jurilla. “For us in the field of medicine, lethargy and loss of appetite, especially following the loss of a loved one, may be due to intense grief and sadness, and not necessarily caused by a ghost.”

 

A person suffering from Capgras delusion is convinced that a family member or close friend is an impostor. “The patient becomes agitated and aggressive in the presence of the ‘impostor’ and refuses to believe they are anything but,” shares Dr. Jurilla. Caused either by a brain injury (which imaging tests like a CT scan or MRI can confirm), mental health disorder (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder), or neurological condition (Alzheimer’s disease, dementia), Capgras delusion is treated with anti-psychotic medication.

 

Hypochondriasis and Illness Anxiety Disorder are other terms for hypochondria—the persistent worry that one has an undiagnosed life-threatening disease. “They’ll keep checking their vital signs, insist that they undergo unnecessary or repeat diagnostic tests, research obsessively about their perceived illness, and jump to conclusions with the slightest symptoms,” says Dr. Jurilla.  “Hypochondriasis is more a mental condition than a physical one, so solutions range from psychotherapy and cognitive behavior therapy to antidepressants.”

 

As people navigate the traditional superstitions of Ghost Month with prayers and appeasement, Dr. Jurilla also hopes to bring awareness to real-life “ghostly” disorders and their impact on people.

 

“They may be rare or unusual, but they also present significant challenges for those affected. The best support we can offer them is understanding, empathy, and evidence-based medical approaches that can help them manage the symptoms and ultimately live a life free of ghosts—that may include stigma, isolation, and the debilitating impact of their condition.”

 

For more information, please contact MakatiMed On-Call at +632.88888 999, email mmc@makatimed.net.ph, or visit www.makatimed.net.ph. Follow @IamMakatiMed on Facebook and Twitter.