Results of psychosocial adjustment to long-term colostomy

114 patients with permanent colostomy for carcinoma of the rectum were compared by questionnaire and interview with 110 cancer patients, having undergone colonic resection but not bearing a colostomy. The patients' own assessment of their health was for the colostomy group even better than for the controls. The emotional state before and after surgery showed significant degrees of hopelessness, depressions and fear especially for young women awaiting colostomy. Social contacts were considered as far as visits of friends or cinema, theatre are concerned. Sexual activity decreased significantly for 75% of colostomized men. In 40% organic lesions led to impotence. The Giessen test revealed significant rates of social impotence, negative social resonance and depression for men with colostoma.