[Personality picture of gout patients]

41 male patients (from the Medical Polyclinic of the University of Munich) suffering from gout have been studied with the semi-standardized psychoanalytic interview and psychological test methods. The result was that all of the patients had a pathologic narcissistic personality. They could be divided up into two groups: two thirds of the patients corresponded with the "philobats" and one third with the "oknophiles" of Balint's concept. Some aspects of the interview data could be verified by the standardized psychological tests. Beyond the metaphoric classification with Balint's concept it was interesting to find parallels to M. Mahler's observations on the mother-child-relation. Corresponding interpretations were possible. Questions concerning the illness behavior, the first attack of the gout together with the psychological conflict were discussed. Further research programs are considered necessary. Nevertheless there are reasons to presume that gout is a multifactorial disease with alimentary, genetic and psychological aetiopathogenetic conditions.