title: Specificity concepts reflected by psychoanalytic epidemiology.
abstract: The issue of whether there are specific constellations of intrapsychic conflicts, personality structures and symptom patterns within the general population is investigated by means of a representative epidemiological field cohort study. Out of a population of 600 adults three groups are compared: probands who are suffering from functional cardiac symptoms, those who are suffering from headaches and a sample of 'healthy' probands. The interview protocols of these probands were examined to identify typical conflict patterns. Finally the raters had to give a 'blind' overall diagnosis. Six criteria differentiating the 3 samples were identified and the 'blind' overall ratings were compared with the actual diagnosis. The results are discussed with regard to a hypothesis from the literature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim, FRG.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reitter
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tress
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006261:Headache / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009449:Neurocirculatory Asthenia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D010553:Personality Development; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D012931:Social Environment