Psychosomatic Aspects of Salivary Activity

Abstract

Psychoanalytic observations concerning hypersalivation in 2 patients are presented. Both patients suffered from ulcer symptoms. Physiologic as well as psycho-dynamic considerations suggest that most patients with duodenal ulcers may be expected to exhibit hypersalivation as well. Certain evidence points to a dissociation between salivary and gastric activity. The psychoanalytic observations indicate that hypersalivation is stimulated more by the mobilization of oral-sadistic impulses than by oral-receptive (dependent) ones. Short case histories are presented. A review of the literature with 50 references is included.