[Personality profile of asthmatics and its changes in the course of various treatment methods]

Abstract

Our study of 30 Asthmatics showed an increase in the neurotic triangel (MMPI-Saarbrücken) and good agreement with the personality profile of neurotics with psychosomatic tendencies. To measure the effect of a 4-week- treatment-course on the personality structure of the patients, the FPI-scale was used, where only a slight change was found in the scale "Nervosität" (FPI 1 measures psychosomatic conflicts). Part of the patients who were also treated with "autogenes Training", the change was somewhat larger but not statistically significant, as compared to the group of patients without "autogenes Training". The treatment-course itself, judging only by the medical evaluations, was proved to be highly effective with statistical significance. A possible explanation for the discrepancy between the two findings could be the difference between the methods of investigation and/or the attitude of the patients to their Asthma because many of them emphasize the somatic aspect of their illness, wishing to ignore or deny a possible psychosomatic explanation.