[Somatic disorders in cardiac phobia]

The paper is concerned with the implication of vertebral complaints in connection with cardiac neurosis and the reinforcement mechanism which maintains the symptom pattern. 31 psychiatric patients with cardiac symptoms and 10 patients with solely vertebral symptoms were examined neuro-orthopedically as well as by clinical and psychological tests. The results indicated that patients with distinct organic signs as muscle hypertension, blocked vertebrae and tenderness on pressure appear to be more anxious, tensed and irritated in the paper pencil tests. This leads to the hypothesis that the organic patients are more sensitive to external and internal stimuli, which causes a higher inclination for muscle tension and therefore vertebral alteration. These alterations again are responsible for internal stimuli like pain and discomfort in the cardiac region. So a cycle is established which can be interrupted by different therapeutic steps, especially cognitive behavioral approach.