Psychosomatic specificity--newly reflected by psychoanalytic epidemiology
Reitter, T.; Tress, W.
Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychoanalyse 37(1): 89-100
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0340-5613 PMID: 2024550 Document Number: 370050
The issue of whether there are specific constellations of intrapsychic conflicts, personality structures and symptom patterns within the general population is investigated by means of a representative epidemiological field cohort study. Out of a population of 600 adults three groups are compared: probands who are suffering from functional cardiac symptoms, those who are suffering from headaches and a sample of 'healthy' probands. The interview protocols of these probands were examined to identify typical conflict patterns. Finally the raters had to give a 'blind' overall diagnosis. Six criteria differentiating the 3 samples were identified and the 'blind' overall ratings were compared with the actual diagnosis. The results are discussed with regard to a hypothesis from the literature.