Related Experiment Videos
Psychogenic respiratory distress
F O Walker1, A G Alessi, K B Digre
1Department of Neurology, Wake Forest University Bowman Gray School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.
Archives of Neurology
|February 1, 1989
Summary
Patients with psychogenic respiratory distress learned symptoms by observing staff anxiety. This learned behavior, driven by gain, significantly impacts diagnosis and treatment strategies for these complex cases.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Neurology
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Psychogenic respiratory difficulty can mimic serious medical conditions.
- Misdiagnosis leads to invasive interventions and prolonged hospitalizations.
Observation:
- Five patients presented with recurrent psychogenic respiratory distress alongside psychogenic neurologic symptoms.
- Patient symptoms elicited anxiety responses from medical staff, reinforcing the distress.
Findings:
- Patients "learned" to exhibit respiratory distress due to staff anxiety responses.
- Primary control over symptom selection was exerted by the patient's perceived gain.
Implications:
- Understanding behavioral mechanisms is crucial for accurate diagnosis of psychogenic respiratory distress.
- Targeted behavioral interventions are needed for effective treatment and prevention.
- This highlights the importance of recognizing the role of "gain" in psychogenic symptom presentation.