[Gastro-esophageal reflux, personality study by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)]

Gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) is often associated with other functional digestive manifestations. The subjectivity of these manifestations permits an in-depth study of the personality of these patients as compared to a regional reference population with the use of the Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory. In these patients suspected to have a gastro-esophageal reflux, the means to the scales are modified except for that of the psychopathy scale, which is reassuring considering its severity. However, no personality profile may be exteriorized. The difference between patients with GER certified or not by pH measurement rests on the predominance of neurotic scales in the group presenting a gastro-esophageal reflux certified by pH measurement. This results appears to be due to the disease itself rather than to the conditions of performance of the MMPI during pH measurement. Only a pre- and post-therapeutic study will enable to confirm these data.