[Psychosomatic factors in idiopathic sudden deafness]

A clinical and psychological history of 27 patients suffering from sudden deafness was taken shortly after the onset of symptoms and 4 months later. Psychosocial factors seem to be important in the beginning of sudden deafness, but there was no specific conflict or personality pattern. Predictors of a good outcome are stable personal relations, emotionally balanced personality factors and a reduction of stress factors after the onset of symptoms. A tendency to addictive behaviour was of unfavourable prognostic significance.