[Psychic disturbances in patients with cervical intervertebral disk changes and cervical osteochondrosis]

The paper is concerned with the investigation of 51 patients with alterations of cervical intervertebral disks and cervical osteochondrosis who have undergone surgical intervention. The examination included a psychiatric interview as well as the application of paper pencil tests. Seventeen patients indicated symptoms of an endogenous depression. The group of depressed patients offered a significantly slow onset of cervical symptoms and, in the period after the operation, complained more often than the group without depressive symptoms. The psychological test revealed an increased tendency of inhibition and anxiety of the depressed group. Lastly, methodical problems are discussed concerning the evaluation of the lapse of psychic conduction as tension over a long period.