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Treatment of spasmodic vomiting and lower gastrointestinal distress related to travel anxiety

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 January 2011

Richard W. Seim ,
C. Richard Spates  and
Amy E. Naugle
Richard W. Seim*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, MI, USA
C. Richard Spates
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, MI, USA
Amy E. Naugle
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, MI, USA
*
*Author for correspondence: Mr R. W. Seim, Department of Psychology, Western Michigan University, 3700 Wood Hall, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008, USA. (email: richard.w.seim@wmich.edu)
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Abstract

Gastrointestinal distress is a common symptom of anxiety. While these symptoms are usually transient and not severe, in some cases they can cause significant impairment. This report details the treatment of a 45-year-old male who presented with symptoms of diarrhoea and vomiting which occurred every time he travelled more than 10 miles away from his home. These symptoms arose suddenly and without warning, and on at least two occasions the vomiting was so severe that it caused the patient to vomit blood. Due to this problem, the patient had developed agoraphobia which had affected his life for over 15 years. The patient was treated in 14 sessions which involved educating him about gastrointestinal reactivity and having him perform a series of emotional tolerance, opposite-action, and real-life exposure exercises. After receiving treatment, the patient embarked on a series of vacations and business trips, all without experiencing diarrhoea or vomiting, and a follow-up assessment showed that the treatment gains were maintained 1 year later.

Keywords

Agoraphobiairritable boweltravel anxietyvomiting
Type
Original Research
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , March 2011 , pp. 30 - 37
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2011

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