title: Breath-holding spells in somatoform disorder.
abstract: Breath-holding spells (BHS) are commonly seen in childhood. However, there are no case reports of BHS occurring in adolescents or young adults. We report two young adult cases and discuss the pathogensis, both physically and psychologically. BHS occurred for 1-2 minutes after hyperventilation accompanied by cyanosis in both cases. Oxygen saturation was markedly decreased. Each patient had shown distress and a regressed state psychologically. These cyanotic BHS occurred after hyperventilation, and we considered that a complex interplay of hyperventilation followed by expiratory apnea increased intrathoracic pressure and respiratory spasm. Breath-holding spells can occur beyond childhood.
authors.affiliation: Shimane University, Japan. inagaki@med.shimane-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inagaki
authors.forename: Soichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyaoka
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsubouchi
authors.forename: Isamu
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Momose
authors.forename: Toshiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kishi
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Horiguchi
authors.forename: Kazue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanata
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hiruta
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakatani
authors.forename: Katsushi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001049:Apnea / Q000523:psychology*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000523:psychology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005196:Family Therapy; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006985:Hyperventilation / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000523:psychology; D012043:Regression, Psychology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen