Purpose: Satisfactory quantitative diagnostic approaches to pharyngeal paresthesia patients with depression or anxiety remain to be explored. This study investigated the plausibility of current perception threshold (CPT) testing in diagnosing pharyngeal paresthesia in patients with depression or anxiety.
Patients and Methods: A total of 41 patients with pharyngeal paresthesia with depression or anxiety were recruited as the study group. Additionally, 60 healthy volunteers constituted the control group. The CPT values associated with 5-, 250-, and 2000-Hz electrical stimulation frequencies were measured at the palatal lingual arch and posterior third of the lingual body (two sensory nerve distribution sites in the pharynx). The normal range of CPT values of the above three frequencies was analyzed. The differences in the CPT values for sensory nerves were compared.
Results: There were no significant differences in age and sex between the study and control groups. The CPT values of the pharynx at the two tested sites were not significantly correlated with age and gender. The CPT value of the study group was significantly lower than that of the control group in the palatal lingual arch and posterior third of the lingual body at an electrical stimulation of 5 Hz (p< 0.05). No significant differences in the CPT values at other frequencies were found between the two groups.
Conclusion: CPT testing is effective in determining pharyngeal paresthesia in patients with depression and anxiety. Paresthesia of the pharyngeal sensory nerve region is caused by damaged C fibers.
Keywords: pharyngeal paresthesia, sensory nerve fibers, current perception threshold testing, reference values, depression, anxiety