A comparative study of psychological aspects of recurring and non-recurring functional aphonias.
The present study is based on the hypothesis that patients with recurrent attacks of aphonia differ from those with non-recurring attacks of aphonia in their anxiety levels, social assertiveness and stress-coping strategies. A comparison was made between 21 women with recurring aphonia and 19 women with non-recurring aphonia with respect to these three factors. Seventeen healthy women served as volunteers. Compared to patients with non-recurring aphonias, patients with recurring aphonias exhibited a significantly higher level of anxiety and significantly more respect for social norms and codes of propriety. Their coping was also characterized by a higher escape tendency. Patients with recurring aphonias also reported a significantly higher number of problems in their private lives within the preceding 5-year period. In therapy patients should be encouraged to reflect upon a possible rigidity toward social norms and better understand fears regarding conflicts in personal relationships.
Günther
V
V
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital, Innsbruck, Austria.
Mayr-Graft
A
A
Miller
C
C
Kinzl
H
H
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D001044:Aphonia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D001242:Assertiveness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012008:Recurrence; D012925:Social Conformity; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000523:psychology*