Introduction: Choking phobia (or swallowing phobia) is characterized by a fear of swallowing foods, liquids or pills, sometimes after an episode of choking on food.
Methods: Forty-one case reports on swallowing phobia from 1978 to 2005 were studied. Clinical and therapeutic variables of the disorder were studied.
Results: It appears to occur more often in females (two-thirds of the cases) and has a high comorbidity with anxiety disorders (panic disorder, 41 %; obsessive conditions, 22 %, and separation anxiety, 15 %). Life-events and eating traumatic antecedents are frequently present (44% and 56% cases, respectively). Cognitive-behavioral treatments have been of proven efficacy, as well as anti-panic drugs (alprazolam, lorazepam, bromazepan, imipramine, clomipramine, fluoxetine, paroxetine) with a remission rate of 58.5%. Gender and treatment differences are also analyzed.