Hypnosis as an effective psychosomatic intervention for globus pharyngeus: A case report

Abstract

Globus pharyngeus is a common condition characterized by a persistent or intermittent sensation of a lump in the throat, affecting 21.5 - 46% of the population. Its multifactorial etiology includes both physical causes, such as pharyngoesophageal irritation, and psychological factors, such as anxiety, making it a challenging condition to treat. This case report examines the phenomenon of globus pharyngeus and explores the effectiveness of hypnosis as a treatment option. We present the case of an 18-year-old male who lost nearly 30 kg of body weight due to his reliance on liquid consumption, as he was unable to swallow solid food because of the globus sensation. The chosen therapeutic intervention was hypnosis. By the fourth session of a planned 10-session program, the patient was able to consume solid foods without experiencing the globus sensation and began to regain weight. This case highlights the potential of hypnosis as an effective treatment option in the treatment of psychosomatic conditions, such as globus pharyngeus.

Keywords

Hypnosis / Hypnotherapy / Globus pharyngeus / Phagophobia / Globus hystericus / Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder / Weight loss

Funding

None.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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