Functional aphonia. A conversion symptom as defensive mechanism against anxiety.
Aphonia is the extreme form of a functional voice disorder. 22 female patients with aphonia underwent laryngoscopic and phonic examinations, psychiatric evaluation, psychological testing and biographical history-taking. Results demonstrate a homogeneous clinical picture, but heterogeneous personality structures and conflict situations. All patients are overtaxed by their situation; the conversion reaction is used as a means to express anxiety and maintain self-assertion at the same time.
Kinzl
J
J
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria.
Biebl
W
W
Rauchegger
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D001044:Aphonia / Q000523:psychology*; D003291:Conversion Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006677:Histrionic Personality Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support