Special Features of Personality Which Are Common to Certain Psychosomatic Disorders

Abstract

The personality factors which have been generally found to be associated with specific psychosomatic disorders are summarized. The illnesses considered are ulcerative colitis, hypertension, hyperthyroidism, rheumatoid arthritis, coronary diseases, peptic ulcer, and bronchial asthma. Quantification is attempted by rating pertinent personality factors on a 5-point scale. The response of patients with differing psychosomatic disorders to different types of psychotherapy was investigated. No type of psychotherapy has permanent effect in alleviating hypertension, rheumatoid arthritis or ulcerative colitis. The 2 conditions considered which respond best to psychotherapy are peptic ulcer and bronchial asthma.