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Acute emotional crises and ulcerative colitis

Report of seven cases

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Summary

In patients with ulcerative colitis, psychogenic factors, emotional disturbances, and personality deviations are present more consistently than can be explained on the basis of chance. The onset of ulcerative colitis after certain types of traumatic emotional shock occurs more frequently than mere coincidence would indicate.

Dramatic and shocking emotional stress immediately preceded the onset of ulcerative colitis in 6 patients, and initiated a flare-up in a seventh. The emotional situations and case histories are presented. The onset of ulcerative colitis immediately after such severe emotional trauma suggests that psychogenic factors may be etiologic in some patients.

All 7 of these patients have responded to medical or surgical treatment with supportive psychotherapy by the gastroenterologist without specific psychiatric therapy. In treatment, however, the emotional aspects of ulcerative colitis must be fully recognized.

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The author is indebted to Dr. Rupert B. Turnbull, Jr., Dr. Roberto Diaz, Dr. Mauro Merlo, and Mrs. Norma Gill (ileostomy technician), Cleveland Clinic, for their help in this study.

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Brown, C.H. Acute emotional crises and ulcerative colitis. Digest Dis Sci 8, 525–536 (1963). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02232035

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