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[Physical complaints in dysphonic patients]
S Krischke1, U Hoppe, U Eysholdt
1Abteilung Phoniatrie und Pädaudiologie des Universitätsklinikums Erlangen.
HNO
|February 4, 2005
Summary
Patients with voice disorders experience various physical complaints, with differences noted between genders. However, functional and organic voice disorders show similar complaint patterns, suggesting functional disorders are not somatoform illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Speech and Language Pathology
Background:
- Previous research indicates physical complaints in patients with benign organic and functional voice disorders.
- This study investigates the nosologic classification of voice disorders, specifically examining the potential for somatoform illness diagnosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess physical complaints in patients with functional and organic voice disorders.
- To determine if functional voice disorders can be classified as somatoform disorders.
Main Methods:
- Eighty patients (50 women, 30 men) with voice disorders underwent assessment using the Giessen Complaint Questionnaire (GBB-24).
- Data were analyzed using non-parametric statistical tests, comparing patient complaints to literature-based controls.
- Patients were categorized into functional (n=31) and organic (n=49) voice disorder groups.
Main Results:
- Dysphonic women reported pathological values in all complaint subscales except limb complaints.
- Dysphonic men showed pathological values in the limb complaints subscale (P<0.05).
- No significant differences in physical complaints were observed between functional and organic voice disorder groups within each gender.
Conclusions:
- Dysphonic patients experience gender- and disorder-type-specific physical complaints.
- Both functional and organic voice disorders are associated with physical complaints.
- The findings do not support classifying functional voice disorders as somatoform disorders.