PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS IN PATIENTS WITH ESOPHAGEAL DISEASE

Psychiatric disorders potentially interact with esophageal diseases on a variety of levels. The interactions may be particularly relevant for esophageal motility disorders, because psychiatric diagnoses are common in patients with chest pain who have esophageal spasm and the nonspecific motility disturbances. Causative roles of psychiatric illness in producing esophageal disease, however, remain unproven. Understanding of the interactions of psychiatric and esophageal diseases has implications in formulating therapeutic plans for patients with chest pain.