[Psychosomatic considerations in dysphagia]

A psychosomatic perspective reintroduces what has always been known but has become seemingly forgotten in contemporary medicine: To understand man in illness and health, social, inter- and intrapersonal considerations are of equal importance to the traditional biological concerns. The act of swallowing is discussed as a paradigm of such complex interactions. The oropharynx is a weather corner of man's non verbalized emotions. Globus sensation, dysphagia and vomiting, commonly described as being of psychosomatic origin, represent but a small part of the frequent functional disturbances of this region. The treating physician must have a special attitude in caring for the many patients with swallowing disorders. Accessibility, flexibility and a nonjudgmental approach are called for. Thus the 'helpless expert' can turn helper, a true therapist (Greek: therapon = servant) and spare the patient a long and futile Odyssey from doctor to doctor.