A global psychosomatic study of 16 consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis.

The author reports the results of a global psychosomatic study conducted upon a consecutive series of 16 patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), by means of an anamnestic biographic interview plus a projective test (TAT) in association with the usual clinical research applied. The most significant data deal with: the relationship with parental figures during infancy; the 'changes' in life during the period which preceded the clinical onset of UC; the presence of a latent or manifest depressive condition; the alexithymic characteristics; the lack of 'intermediate sphere'; the correlation between the reactivation of UC and certain environmental situations; the defence mechanisms; the type of object relationship.