Psychosituational factors and duodenal ulceration in South African blacks and Indians

Forty-one patients with endoscopically confirmed recent duodenal ulceration and 38 controls were studied by a multidisciplinary team. Results indicated that the development of duodenal ulceration may be promoted by stressful situations (71%), especially those which are work-related, avoidance-avoidance conflict (56%), and a compliant personality (51%). Denial was employed by 32%. On the basis of these psychosituational findings a hypothesis for the pathogenesis of duodenal ulceration has been postulated.