A trusting physician-patient relationship is essential. After the physician has excluded a physical disorder and reassured the patient that the symptoms do not indicate a serious underlying disorder, the patient usually begins to feel better and symptoms fade. When a psychologically distressing situation has preceded symptom onset, psychotherapy can be effective. Various treatments have been tried, but none is uniformly effective. In hypnotherapy, the patient is hypnotized, and potentially etiologic psychologic issues are identified and explored.
Discussion continues after hypnosis, when the patient is fully alert.
Narcoanalysis is similar to hypnosis, except that the patient is given a sedative to induce a state of semisleep. Behavior modification therapy, including relaxation training, is effective in some patients. All rights reserved.