AB243. SOH25_AB_139. Soothing ear, nose & throat somatizers with celebrities

Background: It has been reported that up to 40% of patients attending an outpatients’ clinic have somatisation or medically unexplained symptoms. Patients quite frequently find it difficult to accept the medical explanation or follow management advice while emphasis on psychological support has become more important through the years. This review explores the concept of ear, nose & throat (ENT) somatisation, utilising popular celebrity cases to illustrate common symptoms, acceptance of probable diagnosis and supportive treatment strategies to help in dealing with their complaints.

Methods: An online narrative analysis using Google and MSN search engines was conducted for famous people with ENT symptoms, diagnoses or relevant quotations/song lyrics. Search terms comprised celebrities, tinnitus, dizziness, pseudo-eustachian tube dysfunction, hearing loss, formication, atypical facial pain, postnasal drip, catarrh or phlegm, globus pharyngeus and voice or swallowing problems.

Results: Multiple individuals were identified with relevant specific issues that fit the study criteria. Three celebrity case studies will be presented including Neil Young for the cause and management of tinnitus, Simon and Garfunkel for their lyrics of “Feelin’ Groovy” in helping patients with dizziness and Lionel Ritchie for his experience of Laryngopharyngeal reflux. These three illustrative narratives reveal the acceptance of a diagnosis, condition and management in somatizers.

Conclusions: Famous entertainers with difficult to treat symptoms or lyrics from well-known songs can help patients with the same or relevant problems deal with their troublesome complaints.

Keywords: Celebrities; ear, nose & throat (ENT); somatisation; symptoms; management