A Comparison of Psychological Characteristics and Physiological Reactivity in Ulcer and Rheumatoid Arthritis Groups I. Psychological Measures

twofold. (1) In the first section results of a repetition and extension of previous re-search by the authors on rheumatoid ar-thritis are reported. (2) A second paper is devoted to a comparison of physiological reactivity under stress and nonstress condi-tions of the rheumatoid arthritis group and and ulcer group. In an earlier exploratory study,1 partially replicated here, a pattern of behavioral ac-tivity and unconscious fantasies unique to a group of rheumatoid arthritics was re-ported. The data gathered were based on clinical interviews and a battery of projec-tive tests. It was suggested tentatively that arthritics struggle with a conflict centered especially about the containment of strong hostile feelings. Diversion of these impulses into vigorous muscle function such as com-petitive sports and rugged outdoor activity usually characterizes a period of their lives prior to onset of arthritic symptoms.