Korean J Gastroenterol.
1998 Jul;32(1):1-7.
Psychosocial Aspects of Nutcracker Esoyhagus
Abstract
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BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Nutcracker esophagus is a manometric disorder with various and illusive pathophysiology including normal variant, epiphenomenon,spasm , gastroesophageal reflux and neurosis. We performed this study to evaluate psychosocial aspects in nutcracker esophagus.
METHODS
We carried out MMPI and SCL-90-R tests for 24 patients with nutcracker esophagus, 9 patients with nonspecific esophageal motility disorder with low amplitude contraction, and 25 normal controls.
RESULTS
The results of MMPI test for the patients with nutcracker esophagus were significantly different from those of normal controls in the hypochondriasis scale (64.5+/-7.9), depression scale (63.5+9.7), hysteria scale (65.5+/-10.0)(p<0.01). Similar differences were observed in patients with nonspecific esophageal motility disorder. The patients with nutcracker esophagus showed significant difference in the somatization scale (65.0+/-10.2), obsessive compulsive scale (55.2 +/-10.4), interpersonal sensitivity scale (52.3+/-8.5), depression scale (59.0+/-10.9), anxiety scale (59.3+/-10.0), phobia anxiety scale (54.7+/-2.5), paranoid ideation scale (47.3+/-8.2), psychoticism scale (53.5+/-7.7) of SCL-90-R test (p<0.01). The patients with nonspecific esophageal motility disorder showed similar differences in the somatization scale (60.6+/-3.6), interpersonal sensitivity scale (51.0+/-12.4), depression scale (51.0+/- 12.4), anxiety scale (55.1+/-14.9), psychoticism scale (50.6+/-11.6) of SCL-90-R test (p<0.01 and p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Psyehosocial aspects are associated with nutcracker esophagus. Further study is necessary to elucidate the relations between specific psychosocial aspects and nutcracker esophagus.
