[Personality of patients with somatoform disorders]

36 patients of a medical outpatient clinic with cardiopulmonary and gastrointestinal somatoform complaints were interviewed two times at an interval of one year about physical symptoms, personal characteristics and need for professional assistance. The investigated patients felt more depressed than a normal cohort of comparable age. In 25% of the tests a disorder of personality according to ICD-10 was diagnosed. Anxious/depressive and obsessive/compulsive personality traits were predominant. Patients with suspected personality disorder felt more disturbed by a somatoform disorder, had more diffuse complaints and suffered more from symptoms of exhaustion. They were less satisfied with the obtained treatment but did on an average not demand more medical help than patients without personality disorders. The results are discussed with regard to the importance to treat patients with somatoform disorders and to the prognosis of the further course of disease.