An aversive-thought/belching syndrome: A somatic expression of unpleasant thought content

Abstract A new medical syndrome is described consisting of a sympton - sign complex. The symptom phase of the syndrome consists of unconscious aversive thoughts. The sign phase is belching or related gastroesophageal expulsion reflexes. When such signs are observed, they may be indicative of the syndrome which, if present, is useful in the study of psychosomatic phenomena. The present paper assumes belching can be conditioned to aversive thought material by Pavlovian principles. The full analysis and explanation of the aversive thought content, which often is repressed into the unconscious, may require psychoanalytic technique. However, even without being fully analyzed or explained, the phenomenon can be utilized in the course of a conversation, an interview, or a psychoanalysis as a sign pointing to the possible presence of traumatic content.