[Psychosomatic aspect of a choking lump sensation in the throat]

In order to elucidate the relationship between a choking lump sensation in the throat and psychosomatic status, the authors subjected 339 in-patients above 17 years of age with various kinds of otorhinolaryngologic diseases and evaluated their psychosomatic conditions by means of two questionnaires: Cornell Medical Index Questionnaire (CMI) and Maudsley Personality Inventory (MPI). According to the answer to one of the CMI questions "Do you often feel a choking lump in your throat?", the patients were divided into two groups: "Yes" group and "No" one. "Yes" group comprised 51 males (56.1 +/- 15.6 years old of mean +/- SD age) and 34 females (57.9 +/- 13.9 years old) and "No" group 170 males (57.7 +/- 14.3 years old) and 84 females (47.8 +/- 15.8 years old). The data were analysed for comparison between the two groups and the following results were obtained. Patients with benign and malignant oral, pharyngeal and laryngeal diseases were included in the "Yes" group with a significantly higher rate when compared to the patients with benign and malignant ear or nasal diseases. Patients in "Yes" group made significantly more complaints and judged to be significantly more neurotic and autonomic nerve dysfunctioning than those in "No" group. Therefore, diseases in the pharyngolaryngeal region more likely produces abnormal sensation in the throat as well as many other symptoms relating to the autonomic nerve function.