TESTING THE VALIDITY OF PERSONALITY PROFILES IN PSYCHOSOMATIC ILLNESSES
FLOYD O. RING M. D.1
1 Associate psychiatrist, University of Nebraska College of Medicine, and Nebraska Psychiatric Institute, Nebr.
Persons with some illnesses can be picked out from those with others with a good percentage of accuracy by personality interview study alone. Some of the personality profiles as described by various investigators (as interpreted and/or perhaps modified by the author) are valid for these illnesses. More concrete, conclusive, and objective evidence of the relationship between personality profiles and somatic illnesses is demonstrated. These personality profiles precede the onset of illness.
There are some determining factors associated with certain personalities which make that individual more susceptible to certain illnesses and more resistive to others. Personality studies have been demonstrated to be a sensitive indicator that certain illnesses might be present even when not otherwise suspected.
Treatment and preventive measures should be improved when these factors are better established. Personality patterns may determine whether an illness will develop. They may also influence its progress. Personality studies can be a useful prognostic tool.
An extensive and closely coordinated study employing the psychiatrist, neurologist, physiologist, endocrinologist, biochemist, pathologist, and internist should be made to fill gaps in our knowledge of the psyche, the soma, and the inter-relationship between mind and body.
