EMOTIONAL FACTORS IN DUODENAL ULCER.

Anxiety and depression levels in 25 duodenal ulcer patients were compared with equal numbers of age and sex matched normal controls, hospitalised patients with nonpsychosomatic medical illnesses and inpatients with neurosis. Sinha's anxiety scale and Hamilton's rating scale for depression were used to measure the levels of anxiety and depression respectively. Patients with duodenal ulcer were significantly more anxious and depressed as compared to normal subjects and patients with medical illnesses. Duodenal ulcer patients were significantly less anxious and depressed as compared to neurotics. Therapeutic role of tricyclic antidepressants in management of duodenal ulcer is briefly discussed.