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Defining the psychiatric role in spastic dysphonia
B I Ginsberg1, J J Wallack, J J Srain
1Division of Liaison Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, New York.
General Hospital Psychiatry
|March 1, 1988
Summary
Spastic dysphonia, a voice disorder, is not a somatoform disorder, though stress may influence its expression. Psychiatric treatments may be misapplied to this condition without clear organic causes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Spastic dysphonia is a complex phonation disorder with an unclear etiology.
- Understanding the interplay between organic and psychological factors is crucial for effective treatment.
Observation:
- This study evaluated 11 surgically-treated patients diagnosed with spastic dysphonia.
- The evaluation focused on the nature of the disorder and its relationship to psychological factors.
Findings:
- The findings suggest spastic dysphonia is unlikely to be a somatoform disorder.
- Stress appears to influence the expression of spastic dysphonia, potentially leading to secondary depression and anxiety.
Implications:
- Psychiatric interventions may be inappropriately utilized for conditions lacking clear organic origins.
- Conversely, effective medical or surgical treatments might be overlooked if a psychiatric diagnosis is prematurely considered.
- Psychiatrists should exercise caution when diagnosing psychiatric conditions, especially in cases of unclear etiology, adhering to established diagnostic criteria.