Choking phobia: full remission following behavior therapy.
OBJECTIVE
A phobic behavior pattern is learned by classical and operant conditioning mechanisms. The present article reviews the main determinants of choking phobia etiology and describes the behavior therapy of an adult patient.


METHODS
Psychoeducation, functional analysis, and graded exposure to aversive stimuli were used to treat the patient, after extensive psychiatric and psychological assessment. Ingesta and anxiety levels were measured along treatment and at follow-up.


RESULTS
A multiple assessment baseline design was used to demonstrate the complete remission of symptoms after seven sessions, each of them exposing the patient to a different group of foods.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychoeducation and exposure were critical components of a successful choking phobia treatment.
Anxiety Disorders Treatment Unit and Schizophrenia Program, Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Silvia
S
Scemes
Regina Christina
RC
Wielenska
Mariângela Gentil
MG
Savoia
Marcio
M
Bernik
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000523:psychology*; D001521:Behavior Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016896:Treatment Outcome