Is Empty Nose Syndrome Real? If Not, Why Are People Killing Themselves Over It

Re:Is Empty Nose Syndrome Real? If Not, Why Are People Killi... by cpncrunch on Saturday May 07, 2016 @07:00PM (#11651757)

>If someone is experiencing a physical symptom and you tell them it's not actually physical, that is dismissing it

Nobody is saying that at all. The physical causes should be investigated, obviously. Suggesting to the patient that it might be psychological is not "dismissing" anything. Of course, it is true that most patients are vehemently opposed to the idea of psychosomatic pain, as well as many/most doctors. John Sarno's books are a fascinating read.

In this case there doesn't appear to be any pain, or physical sensation at all. You can't sense a "hole", any more than you can sense inflammation or the like.

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Re:Is Empty Nose Syndrome Real? If Not, Why Are People Killi... by arkades on Sunday May 08, 2016 @07:30PM (#11656546)

I'm not familiar with Dr. Sarno personally, but I am familiar with New York's PM&R scene. I'd be mildly skeptical about things coming out of there. Not very skeptical, they're excellent doctors, but there's a strong strain of very-alternative medicine running in that particular sub-culture.

On the other hand, if you want a really mind-expanding read about the fuzzier edges of medicine, you might want to read Daniel Moerman's "Meaning, Medicine, and the 'Placebo Effect'." Don't let down your skeptical guard, but it's worth a read.

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