ESOPHAGEAL MOTILITY DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH PSYCHIATRIC DISEASE

Clinical and experimental observations indicate that the motility of t he oesophagus may be affected by emotional stimuli. The aim of this st udy was to evaluate the incidence of oesophageal contractility impairm ent in patients suffering from a psychiatric disorder, Fifty-one patie nts admitted to the psychiatric department were submitted to an oesoph ageal transit study by means of krypton-81 m. All patients with an abn ormal oesophageal transit underwent manometry and endoscopy, The level of depression and anxiety was evaluated by the treating psychiatrist, using the Hamilton Depression and Anxiety Rating Scales, The oesophag eal transit was abnormal in 13 patients. Two of these 13 patients refu sed manometric investigation. In ten of the ii remaining patients, the manometry revealed functional motor abnormalities. Endoscopy, perform ed in all these ten patients, was normal. In conclusion, a high percen tage of oesophageal contractility disturbances was found in psychiatri c patients complaining of anxiety and/or depression, These abnormaliti es were detected by scintigraphy as well as by manometry. Owing to the normal endoscopic findings, these contraction abnormalities are likel y to reflect a functional motor impairment.