APA Dictionary of Psychology

a historical and outdated term describing a sudden, acute anxiety attack precipitated by (a) the unconscious fear that one might be LGBTQ+ or will act out LGBTQ+ impulses, (b) the fear of being sexually attacked by a person of the same sex, or (c) loss of or separation from a same-sex partner. Also called Kempf’s disease. [first proposed in 1921 by U.S. psychiatrist Edward J. Kempf (1885–1971)]