Psychology In The News | Treating Voice Spasms

Researchers have discovered a potential new treatment for laryngeal dystonia (LD), a neurological condition that causes voice spasms and makes speech sound strained and hoarse.

The study, conducted at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Hospital, focuses on sodium oxybate, a drug already used to treat narcolepsy (a neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to control the sleep-wake cycle).

The research began with an intriguing observation. Some patients reported improved symptoms after drinking alcohol. In an initial test, 106 LD patients were given vodka shots. Of these, 50 experienced smoother speech, while 56 showed no improvement. A follow-up study using prescribed sodium oxybate revealed similar results, with the initial alcohol-responsive group experiencing significant speech improvements lasting up to five hours.

The condition has gained visibility recently due to prominent figures having the condition, including Robert F. Kennedy Jr (recently appointed as Health Secretary by President Trump). Currently, Botox injections are the primary treatment, but they're ineffective for up to 40% of patients.

Lead researcher Dr Kristina Simonyan emphasised the potential of this new treatment, noting that patients could potentially take the medication on an as-needed basis. The drug works similarly to an inhibitory neurotransmitter and mimics some of alcohol’s effects.

While the results are promising, organisations like Dystonia UK caution that more research is needed. The drug has not yet been approved by NICE or the NHS, and further rigorous evaluation is necessary to assess its safety and long-term impact.

The researchers are now proceeding with a larger phase 3 study, offering hope to those affected by this challenging vocal disorder.

Reference: Drug hope to treat voice spasm like RFK Jr's https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/art... (accessed 27.11.24)

ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS!

1. What ethical considerations are there for this research, which initially involved administering alcohol to participants with a neurological condition?

2. Explain how the placebo effect might have influenced the results of the sodium oxybate study and suggest a modification to this study to address this.

3. Outline two ways in which research into this new drug might have economic implications.