title: Severe growing-up phobia, a condition explained in a 14-year-old boy.
abstract: We present the clinical case of a 14-year-old boy with gerascophobia or an excessive fear of aging, who felt his body development as a threat, to the point where he took extreme measures to stop or otherwise hide growth. He had a history of separation anxiety, sexual abuse, and suffering bullying. He presented with anxious and depressive symptoms and food restriction, criticized his body image, had negative feelings towards the maturation process, suffered at the thought of being rejected, and was preoccupied with certain physical characteristics. We conducted an analysis of biological, psychological, and environmental factors and their possible interactions and established treatment with psychotherapy and fluoxetine. Because of the favorable results, this approach could be considered a good option in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Francisco I. Madero Avenue W and Gonzalitos Avenue, 64460 Monterrey, NL, Mexico.
authors.forename: Laurencia
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2553-2321
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perales-Blum
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Francisco I. Madero Avenue W and Gonzalitos Avenue, 64460 Monterrey, NL, Mexico.
authors.forename: Myrthala
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juárez-Treviño
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Francisco I. Madero Avenue W and Gonzalitos Avenue, 64460 Monterrey, NL, Mexico.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-9216-267X
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Escobedo-Belloc