The Habit Cough Syndrome

Abstract

Involuntary cough without an identified underlying organic reason has been given various names and recommended treatments. Current experience suggests that “habit cough” best describes this clinical entity and that “suggestion therapy” is the treatment of choice. Suggestion therapy is effective when it is directed at demonstrating to the patients that they have the ability to resist the urge to cough. Attempts at medical treatment or use of placebo therapy, even with the suggestion that the medicine will stop the cough, are generally not successful. In the absence of suggestion therapy, even when the diagnosis is correctly made, continued symptomatology for years is common. On the other hand, sustained relapse after suggestion therapy is uncommon.