[Personality structure of chronic rheumatically ill females]

80 female patients were tested for personality differences by the Freiburg Personality Inventory and the Giessen Test Self Image. They were divided into four groups with 20 patients each, suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, spondylosis and coxarthrosis. While RA patients did not significantly differ from AS patients, nor spondylosis patients from coxarthrosis patients, certain personality differences were detected between the patients with inflammatory and those with degenerative rheumatic diseases. These results, however, do not allow us to draw the conclusion that a "degenerative or inflammatory rheumatic personality" exists. Besides the Giessen Test Self Image the Giessen Test Self Ideal was also administered to all of the patients. In all four groups the desire for a better basic mood and less depression was prevailing. RA patients also wanted more "social resonance" and "predominance". AS patients wanted significantly less "control" and more "responsiveness". These components should be given special consideration in the psychological care of rheumatic patients.