Brief Insight about Psychological Impact of Achalasia

Abstract

A number of factors may increase the risk for mental health problems in patients with achalasia. Individuals living with a chronic medical condition such as achalasia have been shown to be more likely to develop depression or anxiety. In addition to the psychological burden resulting from symptom load, social and functional impairments may contribute to depressive and anxiety symptoms. Patients with achalasia have reported that their condition conflicted with their social activities, interpersonal relationships, and leisure activities. However, lacking assessment of disorder-specific mental health outcomes such as depression or anxiety limits the clinical relevance of findings and healthcare providers’ ability to provide targeted intervention recommendations. Information concerning health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) in achalasia patients is limited to studies in which non-validated questionnaires were used and to uncontrolled series after Heller myotomy.4–9 Most of these studies report substantially improved HRQoL after Heller myotomy. Data concerning HRQoL after pneumatic dilation is lacking. Besides the limitations of existing data, it is unknown whether remaining achalasia-associated symptoms affect HRQoL or to what extent clinical remission (as defined by symptom scores) is associated with restored HRQoL