[Psychosomatic findings in patients with contact granuloma--initial results]

In a prospective study, 33 patients with vocal cord granulomas were seen in a psychosomatic interview and given questionnaires. Results showed the significance of psychosomatic factors in the occurrence of vocal cord granulomas. Psycho-social stress situations, particularly in private lives, and losses of emotionally significant persons were of prime importance. Two types of personalities--a narcissistic and a psychosomatic type--were represented about equally. In the personality structure of the patients, compulsive behavior was diagnosed most frequently while depressive features occurred to a lesser degree. Supportive and expressive psychotherapy was indicated in two thirds of the cases.