61 patients with symptoms suggestive for gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) disease, 
with or without endoscopic evidence of esophagitis, were studied in order to 
recognize any neurotic traits connected to GERD and its esophageal motility 
disorders. The results were compared with those from a group of patients without 
digestive diseases as well as those from a control group of the same age and 
status. Psychological assessment was made by using the Middlesex Hospital 
Questionnaire and esophageal motility pattern was analyzed with a low-compliance 
manometric system. Patients with gastro-esophageal reflux (GER), irrespectively 
or not from esophagitis, showed, after such a psychological assessment, neurotic 
traits more pronounced than control subjects and patients without digestive 
disease. In GER patients, it was observed a close relationship between some 
psychological traits and a few esophageal manometric variable. In the two groups 
of GER patients, with and without esophagitis, it was not found any significant 
difference in scores referring to the evaluated psychological traits apart from 
symptoms somatization, prevailing in GER patients without esophagitis. These 
results support the pathogenetic role of psychological distresses in the genesis 
of GER, even if other factors may be necessary to the development of organic 
inflammatory lesions such as esophagitis.