[Schizoid versus hysterical personality structure. I: Symptoms and diseases]

This part examines the symptoms and diseases of neurotics with either a schizoid (38) or a hysterical (70) personality structure, comprising 5% and 10% respectively of the first admissions in 7 years. Compared to the hysterical structure, schizoids more frequently show the following characteristics: they are men and have as their secondary component a mixed character structure, an earlier age of onset, a longer duration of illness but earlier referral for psychotherapy. They suffer mainly from psychic symptoms--depressive states and contact difficulties as the indicating signs. Further complaints are defective concentration, feelings of apprehension and difficulty in working, also bulimia and the inability to breathe deeply. They were mostly born between 1940 and 1959. Their relatives suffered from psychiatric disorders. Compared to the schizoids, hysterically structured individuals are almost exclusively women, their second most important structural component being obsessive-compulsive. They develop their illness later, have it for a shorter time and are referred for psychotherapy later. Their indicating signs manifest themselves more often somatically, less frequently as anxiety states or phobias. The symptoms occur simultaneously in several organ systems, particularly the respiratory tract, the gastrointestinal tract and the musculoskeletal system. Common symptoms are dyspnea and/or hyperventilation tetany, nausea, weight gain, frigidity and fluor as well as crying fits. They formerly suffered from gynecological disorders and had to undergo operations. They were mainly born between 1920 and 1939. Their relatives had cardiac disorders and their symptoms were identical or similar to those of their father.