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Psychogenic vomiting: a review
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|May 1, 1982
Summary
Psychogenic vomiting, often linked to stress, typically improves with physician support. Most patients do not require specialized psychiatric treatment but benefit from discussing stressors.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Psychiatry
- Behavioral Medicine
Background:
- Psychogenic vomiting is often an escalation of stress-related vomiting episodes.
- A small subset of patients presents with severe psychiatric conditions requiring specialized care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the nature of psychogenic vomiting.
- To assess the need for psychiatric referral in these patients.
- To identify effective management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Clinical observation of patients presenting with psychogenic vomiting.
- Assessment of psychiatric disturbance levels.
- Evaluation of patient response to physician support and stress ventilation.
Main Results:
- Most patients with psychogenic vomiting are not severely psychiatrically disturbed.
- Patients often resist psychiatric referrals.
- Ventilating stresses to a physician and supportive contact are effective interventions for the majority.
Conclusions:
- Psychogenic vomiting management can often be handled by the treating physician.
- Focus on stress management and supportive care is crucial.
- Psychiatric referral is typically unnecessary for most patients.
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