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Aichmophobia (pronounced [īk-mō-fō′bē-ă]) is the morbid fear of sharp things, such as pencil, needle, knives, a pointing finger, or even the sharp end of an umbrella. It is derived from the Greek aichmē (point) and phobos (fear). This fear may also be referred to as belonephobia or enetophobia.
Sometimes this general term is used to refer to what is more specifically called trypanophobia (fear of needle injections), which is the extreme and irrational fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles.
Aichmophobia can be treated using systematic desensitization, the method used to expose patients to the feared stimuli in gradual degrees while under hypnosis. This method has mixed success.