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Psychiatric comorbidity in patients with spasmodic dysphonia: a controlled study
H Gündel1, R Busch, A Ceballos-Baumann
1Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry
|July 7, 2007
Summary
Patients with spasmodic dysphonia (SD) have a high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity. This suggests a strong link between voice disorders and mental health conditions, impacting overall well-being.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Spasmodic dysphonia (SD) and vocal fold paralysis (VFP) are distinct voice disorders.
- Psychiatric comorbidity is common in many chronic illnesses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity in patients with SD versus VFP.
- To identify predictors of psychiatric comorbidity in SD.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 48 SD patients and 27 VFP patients.
- Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I disorders used for assessment.
- Standardized self-rating questionnaires for physical disability and psychometric variables.
Main Results:
- 41.7% of SD patients and 19.5% of VFP patients met criteria for current psychiatric comorbidity (p<0.05).
- Severity of voice impairment and "satisfaction with health" predicted psychiatric comorbidity in SD.
- SD patients had more severe voice impairment and longer illness duration.
Conclusions:
- A high prevalence of psychiatric comorbidity exists in SD patients.
- A significant correlation between psychiatric comorbidity and voice pathology severity suggests a strong interaction between somatic and psychiatric symptoms in SD.
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