Psycho vomiting, formally known as psychogenic vomiting, is a condition where a person experiences recurrent vomiting not caused by a physical illness. It's linked to psychological factors rather than issues with the digestive system or other bodily functions.
Understanding Psychogenic Vomiting
Based on the provided definition, psychogenic vomiting is described as:
"a syndrome in which there is recurrent vomiting, without any organic pathology or as “functional vomiting” as a result of psychological mechanism." [1]
This means that the vomiting occurs repeatedly, but medical tests find no underlying physical reason for it. The reference further clarifies that it "occurs as a result of an emotional or psychic disturbance without any organicity" [1].
In essence, psychogenic vomiting is a form of "functional vomiting" where the psychological state significantly influences bodily function, leading to the symptom of vomiting.
Key Characteristics
Here are the main points defining psychogenic vomiting:
- Recurrent Vomiting: The vomiting happens repeatedly over time.
- No Organic Cause: Medical investigations reveal no physical illness, structural problem, or other medical condition explaining the vomiting.
- Psychological Origin: It is triggered by or is a result of emotional or psychic disturbances.
- Also Called: It is sometimes referred to as functional vomiting.
Unlike vomiting caused by food poisoning, illness, or motion sickness, psychogenic vomiting is rooted in the individual's emotional or mental state. Stress, anxiety, trauma, or other psychological factors can play a significant role.
Why Does it Happen?
While the exact mechanisms are complex, psychogenic vomiting highlights the strong connection between the mind and body. Psychological distress can manifest physically, and in this case, it affects the part of the brain that controls vomiting.
It's important to note that this is a real and distressing condition for those who experience it, even though the cause is not physical. Diagnosis typically involves a thorough medical evaluation to rule out all possible organic causes before a psychological origin is considered.
Reference:
[1] Definition adapted from the provided text on Psychogenic vomiting.
