Psychic factors determining the long-term adaptation of colostomy and ileostomy patients

The long-term psychosocial adaptation of 34 colostomy patients, operated on for rectal or colonic cancer, and 32 ileostomy patients, operated on for colitis ulcerosa, was examined on average 6.5 years after the operation. The methods used were Heidelberg Colostomy Questionnaire, Beck's Depression Inventory, Block's Ego Resiliency Scale and the Rorschach Inkblot Test. The results showed that the first pre- and postoperative psychic reactions were particularly strong and similar in both groups but the later adaptation was in every respect better in the ileostomy group. The necessity of guidance and psychic support was obvious.