Treatment of social phobia by endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy

Abstract

Objective: To analyse the severity of various symptoms and the developmental life history in social phobia. To estimate the value of ETS in the treatment of chronic social phobia.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Clinic for Psychoneurology and Surgery in Tampere, Finland.

Subjects: Consecutive series of patients (n = 51).

Interventions: Endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy.

Main outcome measures: Qualitative ideographic inquiry. Questionnaire of the symptom severity using visual analogue scale.

Results: The life history included mental and physical abuse in 61%, paternal alcoholism in 26%. Four family subtypes were named: quarrelsome, cruel, alcoholic, and perfectionist. The pathognomonic symptoms of social phobia: hyperhidrosis, palpitation, blushing, tremor, and anxiety, were all highly significantly (p < 0.001) alleviated by ETS. 88% of the patients were satisfied with the result. There were no complications.

Conclusion: ETS seems a promising alternative to conservative therapy for social phobia.