The Prevalence of Psychosomatic Disorders in the Department of Otolaryngology at General Hospital and Necessity of the Psychosomatic Otolaryngologist

Abstract

Objective: Psychosomatic disorders are defined as somatic disorders with organic or functional abnormality, in which the clinical course was greatly affected by psychosocial factors. The common symptoms observed in otolaryngology include globus syndrome, dizziness, tinnitus, and so on. Psychosomatic medicine for the treatment of these disorders is not prevalent in otolaryngology. The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of psychosomatic and psychiatric disorders in the department of otolaryngology at general hospital. Methods: Subjects were 586 patients who consulted the author in the department of otolaryngology from March 2006 through June 2006. Records in their medical charts were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Of them, 133 (22.7%) were considered to have a psychosomatic disorder. The rate of psychosomatic disorders was high in globus syndrome, dizziness, tinnitus, and chronic pharyngitis as 52.9%, 46.4%, 42.9%, 37.5%, respectively. The treatment was based on the explanation of mind-body relationship. Counseling and autogenic training by a clinical psychologist were introduced in 8 patients who were unresponsive to the medical explanation. Conclusion: It is not rare to see patients with psychosomatic disorders in the field of otolaryngology. In this study it is confirmed that there are a certain number of patients with psychosomatic disorders in the field of otolaryngology. It is important for otolaryngologists to examine their patients as psychosomatic otolaryngologists with an understanding of psychosomatic medicine to diagnose psychosomatic disorders.