OBJECTIVE PSYCHOLOGIC ASSESSMENT OF THE THYROTOXIC PATIENT AND THE RESPONSE TO TREATMENT: PRELIMINARY REPORT*

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Abstract
Heretofore, the role of the personality in thyrotoxicosis has been stressed, and frustration of needs proposed as the predisposing factor in the onset of the disease. Our observations in 10 thyrotoxic patients and controls indicate that the role of personality in thyrotoxicosis has been overstressed. Three psychologic tests were used to obtain an objective measurement of the emotional responses associated with thyrotoxicosis, to compare these findings with those in normal subjects and other groups, and to observe the effect of treatment. A description of the techniques used and an analysis of the data obtained are presented. The results led to the following conclusions: 1) There is a definite relationship between the clinical and psychologic assessments of thyrotoxicosis. 2) With objective psychologic techniques, the performance of untreated thyrotoxic patients is significantly different from that of normal controls, patients with somatization, and patients with obsessive-compulsive and schizophrenic reactions but strongly similar to that of patients with organic structural changes in the brain. 3) Thyrotoxicosis is a metabolic disease manifested by impaired psychobiologic integration, involving particularly the autonomic nervous system. The adequately treated thyrotoxic patient closely resembles the normal person, who when under stress tends to internalize his conflicts and frustrations.

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