[Psychopathologic symptoms and personality traits in patients with florid acromegaly]

Important technical and clinical progress has been achieved in neuroendocrinological diagnostic investigations in recent years. Patients with active acromegaly and without a total loss of pituitary anterior lobe function can now be defined. With the help of neuroradiological investigations the intra-, supra- and parasellar extent of the adenoma can be determined. For the following study we selected patients with active acromegaly without a significant reduction of the other pituitary anterior lobe functions and with intrasellar adenomas. 31 patients with active acromegaly were examined before the operation. These patients have uniform psychopathological symptoms including loss of drive, affective disorders such as dejection, brooding, and irritability, and increase in appetite and loss of libido. The psychopathological symptoms are dependent neither on the level of the increased growth hormone nor on hyperprolactinemia. The higher cortical functions are intact. No disorders of intelligence or memory can be found. Disturbances of mental functions are manifested as disorders of concentration and fatigue. Personality traits were strikingly uniform. Their personalities are characterized by conscientiousness, reliability and industriousness. Some patients are also anxious and lacking in self-confidence. The personality traits of the patients become more pronounced as a result of the illness. The continuous development of the patients corresponds to the personality traits. Changes in personality, in particular those caused by organic brain disease were not found. Because we applied strict criteria to the selection of our patients we conclude that the uniform psychopathological symptoms and the uniform personality traits of the patients are an essential element of the clinical picture of active acromegaly.