Psychogenic vomiting: what are they and who do they affect?

Psychogenic vomiting is the result of various psychological disorders. However, for the medical community this fact remains, in many cases, a challenge. There are people who, without presenting any organic cause to justify their constant nausea, can reach very serious states of dehydration.

These are complex situations that require the attention of several specialists.: psychiatrists, psychologists, gastroenterologists… We are not facing a clinical condition that exclusively affects women with eating disorders. Psychogenic vomiting can appear in the elderly and, more frequently, in children.

Psychogenic vomiting

The first time this problem was described was in 1960. Often, health professionals were faced with situations that they did not know how to treat and that, in many cases, could end in death. For older patients, uncontrollable nausea and dehydration pose a serious health risk.

Now, what is psychogenic vomiting? They are a rare medical condition that presents with nausea, severe and recurrent vomiting without an organic cause to explain it. So far, various medical treatments have been tried to reduce the effect, but the results are usually not satisfactory.

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Psychogenic vomiting can be of two types:

Intentional: They are those that are consciously induced. For example, those caused by people affected by bulimia nervosa.Unintentional: They are those that appear in episodes of anxiety, nervousness or stress. They are usually an involuntary conditioned response. It is very common in children, when they want to get attention or when they want something.

Causes of psychogenic vomiting

It should be noted that, in recent years, research on this condition has increased. Thus, works, such as that of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine at the University of Kyushu (Japan), explain the causes behind this very exhausting situation. Let’s look at some of them.

1. Major depression

A good part of the patients who have been admitted with a manifestation of psychogenic vomiting have undiagnosed major depression. These are people who have obvious psychosomatic symptoms and who have not sought psychological help for months or years.

2. Anxiety disorders

Anxiety disorders present a very wide spectrum of physical manifestations. Thus, headaches, digestive disorders, muscle pain and even skin disorders are very common occurrences.

Therefore, a small part of patients with an anxiety problem (panic disorders and agoraphobia or generalized anxiety disorder) may present psychogenic vomiting.

3. Post-traumatic stress disorders

Having a past of abuse, having suffered abuse, suffering bullying or even workplace harassment, usually leads in certain cases to psychosomatic disorders. Compulsive vomiting is linked, above all, to traumatic childhoods.

4. Conversion disorder

Conversion or dissociative disorders usually show signs of neurological origin without there being a disease or physical cause to explain it. They cause memory loss, inability to move any limb and also nausea and vomiting.

5. Eating disorders

As we noted at the beginning, it is common to believe that psychogenic vomiting is an exclusive characteristic of young women with eating disorders. Now, we know that this group is not the only one. However, yes, It is a prototypical manifestation in people with bulimia.

It should be noted that in many cases it is not voluntary. Sometimes, it is a compulsive and uncontrollable response that the patient cannot control.

Psychogenic vomiting, very common in children and the elderly

Both children and the elderly suffer from this type of condition and, on average, they tend to be the most affected and those who also show a greater risk to their health. Behind it, there is usually the stress, emotional distress, tantrums in children, and depression in older adults.

Psychogenic vomiting in children sometimes coincides with appearance of some psychosocial stressor, such as the arrival of a little brother, a change of address or school, as well as the divorce of parents. In these cases, vomiting occurs as a way to release the negative emotions you are experiencing.

Thus, vomiting shows us a child emotion, whether anger or frustration. Furthermore, they can also use them as the means to a desired end. This means that the action serves a purpose, thereby reinforcing its manifestation.

Psychogenic vomiting cannot and should not go unnoticed. It is important that they receive specialized healthcare. Psychologists and psychiatrists are the professionals who will offer the best response to these situations. If we do not respond quickly, we can lead to serious cases of dehydration.

How is psychogenic vomiting treated?

The main strategy to address this type of psychophysiological conditions is treat the symptom and the person as a whole. We cannot neglect the symptom because it can lead the patient to dangerous situations. The essential thing is to attend to the psychological reality of the person.

The type of therapy will be based on the needs of each patient. Treating a person with a dissociative disorder is not the same as treating a child who suffers. bullying at school or to a young woman with bulimia. We must take into account the unique realities of each person; if we are dealing with an elderly person with major depression, for example, we will also need family collaboration, as well as his family doctor.

Stress and anxiety management techniques, cognitive restructuring, enhancing self-esteem and enabling relaxation and emotional management resources are usually the most important points. In any case, and to conclude, let us remember that Emotional conflicts and mental problems always have an impact on our body.

Psychogenic vomiting is an example of this.

How should we act in the case of children?

It must be taken into account that, in the case of children, vomiting is usually common. Therefore, in the first instance, There is no need to be scared or alarmed, unless we observe that they occur recurrently.. If our reaction is exaggerated, he may become scared and afraid of doing it.

If we observe that they occur very frequently, we should go to the pediatrician. Once any physical pathology has been ruled out, it would be advisable to consult with a psychologist.

The psychologist can help us identify the cause. Once we know the cause, we will work to resolve the difficulties you are going through.. Especially in cases where the origin is the expression of an anxiety or emotional problem.

To conclude, although we normally associate vomiting with an upset stomach, not all of them are due to physiological causes, as we have seen. Therefore, we should not trust ourselves by believing that they are of physical origin, but rather be attentive to the recurrence and the situations in which they commonly appear, especially if they are children, because, in general, they end up somatizing their emotional discomfort. .

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