Some clinical studies on the psycho-somatic background of peptic ulcer

Summary and conclusions

A psychiatric examination of 33 young adult males with duodenal or gastric ulcer has been carried out. Space permits only the presentation of 4 illustrative cases in detail. The entire group revealed characteristic psychic backgrounds. These patients are suffering from chronic frustration and inward direction of re-pressed, strong emotional stimuli with strong masochistic and sadistic tendencies. This chronic state of inward tension or drive bears a close relation to the incidence and recurrence of peptic ulcer. While much further work is necessary before one can draw a final conclusion, nevertheless, a review of the observations of others plus our own experience impresses one with the strong probability that peptic ulcer is a psychosomatic disease.