[Dyspnea «sine materia»].

Abstract

Dyspnea is a symptom of respiratory discomfort commonly encountered in clinical practice which, in most of the cases, relates to a cardiopulmonary or a metabolic disorder. Its genesis is complex and results from numerous interactions within cortical and limbic brain areas following intero- and nociceptive stimuli. The term dyspnea «sine materia» points to a state where no clear underlying cardiopulmonary or metabolic pathology has been identified and we include here the hyperventilation syndrome and the physical deconditioning. Treatment of dyspnea «sine materia» is based on behavioural psychotherapy and on reathtletisation programme in case of physical deconditioning.