ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recently, researchers have come to believe that gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and esophageal motility disorders are the most important etiologic factors causing globus pharyngeus. On the other hand, psychological factors such as somatization or depression are regarded as relatively less important etiologic factors. In an attempt to verify this current belief, the authors performed a prospective study in patients who complained of globus sensation in the throat. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Among 62 adult patients with globus symptoms, 33 patients underwent 24-hour esophageal ambulatory pH-monitoring: 46 patients underwent esophageal manometry: 26 patients underwent Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory (MMPI): and 25 patients underwent Becks depression index (BDI) test. RESULTS: GER was diagnosed in 21.2% of the tested patients and non-specific esophageal motility disorder was found in 4.3%. MMPI showed abnormalities in 57.7% of the tested patients, and BDI showed a high index of depression in 96% of the tested patients. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the current belief, GER and esophageal motility disorder should be regarded as just one of the possible etiologic factors, and psychological factors should not be ignored in the evaluation of a patient with globus pharyngeus.