Study on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and Treatment in Female Urethral Syndrome Patients

Lee, Jeong Gu; Koh, Sung Kun

Abstract

Female urethral syndrome is a common disorder in women consisted of urinary frequency, urgency, dysuria and suprapubic discomfort without any specific organic changes on corroborative physical and laboratory findings. Allergy, psychic factors, senile atrophy, obstruction and chronic infection of periurethral gland have been implicated at etiologic factors. From Jan. 1982 to Jan. 1983, 22 patients of the female urethral syndrome underwent laboratory examinations and cystourethroscopic examinations. In addition, both 22 cases of the patient group who showed female urethral syndrome with polypoid at the bladder neck and the same numbers of 22 as the control group who had been treated at this hospital with other medical diseases were tested the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Concomitantly, no specific abnormalities were found in both urine findings and cystourethroscopic findings except polypoids at the bladder neck in 22 cases. Female urethral syndrome patients in this study scored up significantly higher on the hypochondriasis, hysteria and depression scales than did the control group, and the results revealed evidence of conversion and psychosomatic etiology. All 22 cases were treated with transurethral fulguration, urethral dilatation and antibiotics. Chlordiazepoxide was added to above mentioned treatment in 15 cases which scored up significantly higher on hypochondriasis, hysteria, and depression scales among 22 cases Excellent result were obtained in 12 out of 15 cases while only 3 out of 7 cases which didn`t add chlordiazepoxide in their treatment had good result.