Current Perception Threshold Testing in Pharyngeal Paresthesia Patients with Depression or Anxiety

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Psychiatry
• Otolaryngology

Background:

• Pharyngeal paresthesia diagnosis lacks quantitative methods, especially in patients with comorbid depression or anxiety.
• Understanding the sensory nerve involvement in pharyngeal paresthesia is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the diagnostic utility of current perception threshold (CPT) testing for pharyngeal paresthesia.
• To evaluate CPT testing in patients with co-occurring depression or anxiety.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 41 patients with pharyngeal paresthesia and depression/anxiety, and 60 healthy controls.
• Measured CPT values at 5, 250, and 2000 Hz at two pharyngeal sites (palatal lingual arch, posterior lingual body).
• Compared CPT values between groups and analyzed correlations with age and gender.

Main Results:

• No significant age or gender differences between groups; CPT values were independent of these factors.
• Patients with pharyngeal paresthesia showed significantly lower CPT values at 5 Hz at both tested sites compared to controls (p<0.05).
• No significant CPT differences were observed at 250 Hz and 2000 Hz.

Conclusions:

• Current perception threshold (CPT) testing is a viable quantitative diagnostic tool for pharyngeal paresthesia in patients with depression and anxiety.
• The findings suggest that damaged C fibers are responsible for paresthesia in the pharyngeal sensory nerve region.