EMOTIONS AND GASTRODUODENAL FUNCTION

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Abstract
33 unselected patients with gastro-duodenal lesions and 13 normal controls were studied. Reactions of intense anxiety, insecurity, resentment and frustration were found to be characteristic of all the patients. These personality traits were commonly accompanied by an over-compensatory effort at independence, self-sufficiency and perfectionism. Since the personality disturbances had been of such long duration they could not have occurred secondarily as a result of gastrointestinal dysfunction. Instrumental records were made of motility and secretions of the stomach, of the finger temp, and of respiration on 13 patients and 13 normal subjects in emotion-producing situations. The characteristic physiological accompaniments of tension, anxiety, resentment, anger, guilt and desperation were an increase in HC1 and in mucous and pepsin secretions. Peristaltic activity became stronger and more continuous, and respiration became more rapid and shallow. In the patients with ulcers, a symptomatic attack would often be precipitated. An extensive bibliography is attached.

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