Rijal R, Pokhrel P
Rhythm Neuropsychiatry Hospital and Research Centre Private Limited, Aloknagar, Kathmandu, Nepal.
Case Rep Psychiatry. 2024 Aug 26;2024:8827460. doi: 10.1155/2024/8827460. eCollection 2024.
Phagophobia is a rare and debilitating mental health condition characterized by an intense fear of choking solid food or liquids. Usually there is no underlying anatomical or physiological abnormalities. Choking phobia can lead to the avoidance of solid foods and liquids. This can give rise to other psychiatric disorders like major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder. Only few case reports of choking phobia are available in the literature. Here we present the case of a middle-aged man, with a 10-year history of fear of choking, starting after an aspiration episode and later maintained by a similar episode. The patient felt that food would be stuck in the windpipe, and he could not breathe while swallowing solid food and liquids. This eventually led to reduced eating and drinking causing significant weight loss. He also isolated himself and became depressed. After several searches for help in somatic healthcare, including surgery for deviated nasal septum, the patient was finally investigated in a psychiatric clinic and treated with pharmacological measures and behavioral therapy with considerable improvement within a few months. Choking phobia can mimic different physical conditions and is often misdiagnosed. Early recognition and timely referral to mental health professionals are vital for effective management.
恐噎症是一种罕见且使人衰弱的心理健康状况，其特征是对吞咽固体食物或液体存在强烈恐惧。通常不存在潜在的解剖学或生理学异常。噎食恐惧症会导致对固体食物和液体的回避。这可能引发其他精神障碍，如重度抑郁症和焦虑症。文献中仅有少数关于噎食恐惧症的病例报告。在此，我们呈现一名中年男性的病例，他有10年的噎食恐惧病史，始于一次误吸事件，后来又因一次类似事件而持续存在。患者感觉食物会卡在气管里，吞咽固体食物和液体时无法呼吸。这最终导致饮食减少，造成显著体重减轻。他还自我孤立并变得抑郁。在多次寻求躯体医疗帮助，包括进行鼻中隔偏曲手术后，患者最终在精神科诊所接受检查，并接受了药物治疗和行为疗法，几个月内有了显著改善。噎食恐惧症可能会模仿不同的身体状况，且常常被误诊。早期识别并及时转诊至心理健康专业人员对于有效管理至关重要。
