Ad Kaptein and associates examined psychosocial concomitants, illness perceptions, and treatment perceptions in patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia. The design was a prospective controlled cohort study conducted at tertiary care facility. Forty-nine outpatients (38 women, 11 men; average age of 52 years) with adductor spasmodic dysphonia completed a battery of reliable and validated psychometric assessment instruments. Control patients' data were derived from scores in questionnaires by samples in the formal manuals of the questionnaires used. The main outcome measures were psychosocial functioning, illness perceptions, and treatment perceptions. Results showed that scores on psychosocial measures were elevated in male patients especially, indicating levels of psychological morbidity significantly above those seen in the general population. Assessments of illness perceptions and treatment perceptions indicated that patients perceive that they have a very low degree of control over the disorder, and experience a high emotional impact from it. Voice Handicap Index scores illustrated substantial degrees of perceived handicap.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE PROVIDER: Kaptein and colleagues concluded that adductor spasmodic dysphonia is associated with significant negative psychosocial concomitants, coupled with low perceived control over the condition. Future research should elucidate the implications of illness perceptions and treatment perceptions for the biopsychosocial care of persons with adductor spasmodic dysphonia in order to improve self-management and enhance quality of life.

WHAT THE STUDY MAY MEAN TO YOU AS A HEALTH CARE CONSUMER: The study clearly demonstrated that the development and application of a self-management program for patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia should be the next step following this fine study.

AA Kaptein et al. Psychological aspects of adductor spasmodic dysphonia: a prospective population controlled questionnaire study. Clinical Otolaryngology, 2010;35:31-38.