Peculiarities of development and dynamics of functional dysphagia

100 patients (88 women, 12 men) of 16-64 years of age with functional dysph agia were examined. In all the cases the disease develops under the influen ce of stress in individuals with high anxiety, easy formation of dysthymic, obsessive-phobic reactions in the situation of frustration. Functional dys phagia arises most frequently at the age of 20-40 years. 4 stages pass in t he course of the disease: a stage of reactive (neurotic) depression; psycho somatic reactions; psychosomatic cycles (mono- and polysomic); psychopathiz ation. Psychopathization manifests pathologic (psychosomatic) development o f personality observed usually in long-term course of dysphagia.