A case of phobic anxiety related to the inability to smell cyanide.

This report describes a case of phobic anxiety relating to cyanide in a process operator who is unable to smell hydrogen cyanide. This case demonstrates that hazardous substances in the workplace can provoke this mental disorder in individuals who are unable to detect by special senses whether or not a specific hazard is present. The clinical management of such individuals is complicated since they must be able to perceive the feared object or substance in order to overcome their anxiety.