Sertraline and cognitive behavioral therapy in the treatment of psychogenic dysphonia: A case report

Abstract

Psychogenic dysphonia (PD) is the inability of the structurally normal vocal cords to perform their proper vocalization function. In other words, it can be defined as the inappropriate or incorrect use of the normal vocal organ. The role of emotional stress is important in the formation of psychogenic dysphonias. It is a transformative clinical condition that is difficult to diagnose and treat. There are various studies in the literature regarding the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment approaches of patients with psychogenic dysphonia. The combination of sound therapy and psychotherapy is often used together, as psychogenic dysphonia symptoms and psychological factors mutually influence each other. Pharmacotherapy can also be among the treatment approaches, but this method is only applied in certain situations. The success of treatment may vary depending on the patient's symptoms, response to treatment, and other factors. Therefore, it is important to develop an individualized treatment plan for each patient. There are limited studies on pharmacotherapy in treatment. In this case report, it is aimed to discuss a male psychogenic dysphonia case who responded dramatically to sertraline treatment in the light of the literature.