Psychological Factors in Chronic Sore Throat

Authors : Abdulaziz Yalınkılıç, Mehmet Zeki Erdem, Mehmet Aydın, Semra Ağırbaş, Mesut Işık

Pages : 288-295

Doi:10.26453/otjhs.1717729

View : 51 | Download : 81

Publication Date : 2025-09-15

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Objective: Chronic sore throat is one of the common causes of presentation to otolaryngology outpatient clinics. Although non-infectious causes are usually blamed, it is thought to be related to many etiologic factors. In this study, psychological factors associated with chronic sore throats, especially anxiety, depression, somatosensory amplification, and somatization, were examined. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted with 77 participants, including 41 patients with chronic sore throat and 36 healthy controls. Sociodemographic data and psychological assessments using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD), Somatization Scale, and Somatosensory Amplification Scale (SAS) were collected. Results: No significant differences were found between groups in terms of age, gender, smoking habits, psychiatric history, or ongoing psychiatric treatment. Somatization Scale and SAS scores were significantly higher in the patient group (p=0.001 and p=0.005). No significant differences were found in HAD-A and HAD-D scores between the patient and control groups. However, a significant positive correlation was observed between HAD-A and SAS scores. Conclusions: Psychological factors, particularly somatosensory amplification, may contribute to the persistence of chronic sore throat. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating psychological assessments in the management of such cases to improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment outcomes.
Keywords : Anksiyete, depresyon, kronik boğaz ağrısı, somatizasyon, somatosensoriyel amplifikasyon

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