老齡化에 隨伴되는 心理的 反應樣相과 役割喪失에 대하여

禹幸源 梨花女子大學校 韓國生活科學硏究院 1988 韓國生活科學硏究院 論叢 Vol.42 No.-

노년기는 부인할 여지없이 심리적으로나 신체적으로나 명실 공히 상실의 시기라 할 수 있겠고 이 시기에 자신이 친숙하게 지내왔든 환경이나 사회적인 관계형성 및 소중한 인간관계가 은퇴나 사망으로 인해 모두 상실할 수밖에 없게 된다. 늙어간다는 것은 인간에게 여러 가지 활동면에서 다양하게 손실을 주고 적응면에서도 쇠퇴 현상이 일어나고 질병에 이르게 되는 경우가 있다. 이루어 놓았든 자가통합의 상실이나 결핍은 절망으로 바뀌고 종종 죽음에 대한 무의식적 공포에 떨게 된다. 이러한 과정에서 노인은 여러 가지 방법과 전략으로 자신의 기질적, 심리사회적 스트레스로부터 받는 압박에 반응하게 된다. 이에 저자는 노령화에 따르는 사회심리적인 반응과 정신분석 방어기전과 narcissism과 역할상실에 대한 문헌들을 고찰하여 보았다. Old age is undeniably a time of loss, both psychologic and physiologic, including loss of familar environments loss of social relationships, loss of significant persons and the anticipation of death. Growing old has disadvantages for an individual to varying degrees in various activities. That is neither denying that "slowing down" accompanies the aging process nor that certain adjustment has to be made to slowing down and to illness. The lack or loss of the accrued ego integration is signified by despair and an often unconscious fear of death in older adults. The elderly may respond in a variety of ways and strategies, both organic and psychologic, to review the articles of socio-psychological patterns of response to aging, psychoanalytical defence mechanism of aging and narcissism and role loss of aging.

산후 정신장애에 대한 임상적 연구

禹幸源 梨花女子大學校 韓國生活科學硏究院 1977 韓國生活科學硏究院 論叢 Vol.19 No.-

여성에게 있어 임신과 산욕기의 위기는 사춘기나 갱년기 위기에 못지 않게 중요한 성숙기의 위기라 할 수 있다. 이 시기에는 내분비의 변화, 신체상(body image)의 변화가 일어남은 물론이고 심리적으로도 임신과 관련되는 무의식적인 갈등과 어머니가 되려고 하는 내적 심리적 과정에서 심한 stress를 받게 된다. 즉 산후 정신장애의 원인은 사회심리학적 요인과 내분비선의 변화에 의한 요인이 임상적으로 상호연관성을 이룬 결과라고 볼 수 있다. 이들의 임상증상은 타 정신장애의 증상과 유사하여 현대 정신의학에서는 이 질환을 어떤 독립된 질병분류로는 분리하지 않고 오히려 여러가지 질병 양상의 집합현상으로 보고 있다. 저자는 1971년 7월 1일부터 1976년 9월 30일까지 이화대학 부속병원 신경정신과에 의뢰되었던 19명의 산후 정신장애자의 기본적인 임상적인 면을 정신의학적인 문진을 통해 고찰해 보았고 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. (1) 환자들의 평균 연령은 27세였다. (2) 환자 1,000명당 약 1.07명의 발생 빈도를 보였다. (3) 정신분열증이 5예(26%), 정신병적 우울증이 5예(26%), 정신신경증이 9예(48%)였다. (4) 초산부가 10명(53%), 경산부가 5명(26%), 산후 때마다 정신장애를 보여준 경우가 4명(21%)이었다. (5) 산후 1주 이내에 발병한 경우가 11예(58%)로 가장 많았다. (6) 10예(53%)에서 혼돈과 섬망을 보여 주었으나 그 이외에서는 타 정신장애의 임상증상과 유사한 임상증상을 보여 주었다. (7) 일반으로 원만치 못했던 부모 및 형제관계에서 성장했던 과거력을 찾아볼 수 있었고 결혼생활에서도 많은 갈등을 가지고 있었다. (8) 11예(58%)에서 유아에 대한 불안감, 죄악감, 지나친 우려 및 거부적 태도를 나타냈다. (9) 경제상태나 교육정도, 종교 및 분만상태 등 과는 특별한 임상적 관계를 찾을 수 없었다. Pregnancy and the postpartum periods are generally regarded as maturational crisis so important as those of adolescence and the menopause. Stresses undergone during these periods include endocrine changes, changes in body image, activation of unconscious psychological conflicts pertaining to pregnancy, and intrapsychic reorganization of becoming a mother. It seems likely that clinically significant interactions of psychosocial and endocrine factors may be found in the etiology of these disorders. Clinical symptoms of postpartum mental disorders seem to occur in similar patterns of other mental disorders. Current psychiatry does not look upon this psychosis as a disease entity which merits a clear nosological classification. It is rather regarder as composite phenomena or resultants of an underlying biogenic weakness, precipitating toxic and exhausitive factors, and superimposed psychological stresses. This study was designed to investigate the basic clinical phenomena of the 19 female patients with postpartum mental disorders in Korea. The subjects were those who consulted to the department of neuropsychiatry, Ewha Woman’s University Hospital during the period from July 1st, 1971 to September 30th, 1976. I had interviewed with the patients by means of general psychiatric interview technic. The results were: Age: The psychotic patients were 27 years of age in average Incidence : The rate among postpartum mental disorders was 1.07 per 1,000 live births. Diagnosis : According to the clinical diagnostic categories, these 19 cases were divided into 5 cases (26%) of schizophrenia, 5 cases (26%) psychotic depression and 9 cases (48%) of psychoneurosis. Parity : The primipara patients were 10(53%) multioara patients were 5, (26%) and others occurred every postpartum setting. Onset : 11 cases (58%) of them developed their mental disorders within 1 weeks of pueperium. Clinical Symptoms: Their clinical symptoms were similar to those of mental disorders which were not related to the childbirth, but for about half of these cases manifested confusion and delirium. Interpersonal relationship: This study revealed that postpartum mental disorders had many difficulties in their relation with parents and sibilings in early childhood and their marital life. Attitude toward babies. 11 cases(58%) of them expressed the feeling of anxiety, guilty, over concerning and rejecting of their babieis. Other: There were no correlation between postpartum disorders and education, religion, and economic status.

종합병원에서의 정신과 의뢰

禹幸源 梨花女子大學校 韓國生活科學硏究院 1978 韓國生活科學硏究院 論叢 Vol.21 No.-

종합병원에서의 정신과 의뢰는 매우 중요한 것으로 이를 통하여 타과환자의 정신신체장애 같은 정신과적 문제를 파악 처리할 수 있고 진단과 치료를 도울 수 있으며, 학생들과 수련의들을 교육할 수 있다. 그외 타과와 공동연구를 할 수 있는 기회를 얻게 되고 그렇게 함으로써 결국 정신신체의학의 발전을 꾀한다고 생각된다. 그렇지만 현 실정은 정신의학적 진단이나 정신과 의사의 역할에 대해 회의나 저항을 가지고 있어 적절하고 능률적인 치료가 이루어지지 못하고 있는 실정이다. 이에 저자는 타과에서 정신과로 의뢰해 온 환자들의 문제들을 검토해 봄으로써 의료계 내에서의 정신과 진료의 문제점을 파악해 보려 하였다. 저자는 1977년 3월부터 1978년 2월 말까지 이화의료원 신경정신과에 의뢰해 온 54명을 대상으로 정신과의 의뢰보고서와 환자병록을 검토 분석하였다. 의뢰환자는 20∼40대서 가장 많았고, 남녀의 비율은 40.7% : 59.3%였다. 내과에서 의뢰된 환자가 제일 많았고, 환자들의 정신과적 문제에 대한 평가와 치료에 대한 요청이 대부분의 의뢰 이유였다. 의뢰전의 1차적 진단은 대체로 신체적인 것이었는데 정신과에서 내린 진단은 95%에서 우울증이나 히스테리, 정신신체장애 등의 정신적 질환이었다. 정신과적 진단과 시체적인 진단이 병기된 경우도 38.9%나 되었다. 일반적으로 대부분의 정신과적 질환에서 우울증을 볼 수 있었고, 신체적 질환과도 자주 동반되고 있었다. 정신과치료에 대한 정신과 의견은 잘 반영되지 못하는 경향을 보여 주었으나 항전신성 약물에 대한 제안은 잘 반영되었고, 전 의뢰환자의 55.5%가 퇴원 직전에 의뢰되었다. 이 결과는 일반 임상의사들이 정신과의사의 의견을 받아들이기 싫어하는 경향을 보여 주는 것이다. The author conducted a clinical study of 54 inpatints (0.75% of all patients) referred for psychiatric consultation to Ewha Womans University Hospital for one year. Referral was common in the 20-40 year age group, and the male to female ratio was 40.7%:59.3%. Most of the referrals came from the Dept. of Internal Madicine (Table 2). The reasons for referrals were general evaluation and management of the patients psychiatric problems. Primary diagnosis before consultation were mostly physical. G-I disorders, drug intoxication, F. U. O, essential hypertension, convulsive disorders, and head traumas were the major problems. But psychiatrists made psychiatric diag-noses in 95% of the cases, and depressive neurosis, hysterical nenrosis, organic brain syndromes, psychophysiologic disorders were the most common (Table 6). Physical diseases combined with psychiatric diseases in 38.9% of the cases. (Table 4). In general, depression was found to be an important and a most common psychiatric problem complicated with physical diseases. 55.5% of the referrals were referred to the psychi-atric department during one or two days before discharge. The data seems to indicate that the general tendency of physicians is not to accept the opinions of psychiatrists concerning diagnosis and management, except for psycho-tropic medication. Psychiatric consultation is important in collaboration between psy-hicatry and medicine in comprehensive patient care and teaching the psychosomatic aspects of the diseases.

응급실을 통하여 입원한 정신과 환자에 대한 임상적 고찰

우행원 梨花女子大學校 醫科大學 醫科學硏究所 1988 EMJ (Ewha medical journal) Vol.11 No.4

Hospital records of neuropsychiatric patients admitted to Ewha Womans University Hospital via the emergency room from January 1, 1982 to December 31, 1986 were reviewed, and the following results were obtained. 1) Patients admitted via the emergency room comprised 6.65% of total neuropsychiatric admission The rate of emergency admission were 3.98% at 1982, 3.48% at 1983, 8.5% at 1984, 7.9% at 1985, 9.4% at 1986 which seems increasing tendency. 2) The male : female sex ratio of the patients was 1 : 1.03. 43% of the emergency room admission patients were in their twenties and 20% of the patients were thirties, 63% of them were in their twenties or thirties. 3) 82% of them were in the middle class of socioeconomic level, 46% of the patients had college education level and 51% of them were married status. 4) Presenting problems, in the order of frequency, were delusion and hallucination, somaticsymptom, anxiety and phobia, exciting and assultive behavior, convulsion, suicide attempt, behavior disorder, sleeping disturbance, consciousness disorder and homicide tendency. 5) In most cases the duration of hospitalization was 2 weeks or less for neurosis and over 2 weeks in schizophernic disorders. 6) 21.5% of the emergency room patients were diagnosed as schizophrenic disorder which was the most frequent diagnosis in all patients. 7) 23% of the emergency room patients were discharged against medical advice.

Diagnostic and Statistical Manual(DSM)Ⅲ 진단에 의한 노인입원 정신질환자에 대한 임상적 연구

우행원 梨花女子大學校 醫科大學 醫科學硏究所 1986 EMJ (Ewha medical journal) Vol.9 No.4

This article reviewed the thoretical unerpinnings of the DSM Ⅲ classification system, with particular emphasis on psychogeriatic practice. Advantages of a descriptive approach, use of operational criteria, and the utility of a multiaxialsystem in developing comprehensive treatment program were examined. A retrospective study, 5 years after the implementation of DSM Ⅲ, was conducted on all consecutive admissions to the neuropsychiatry department of Ewha Womans University, College of Medicine, and the results were as follows. The thirty cases of the senile mental disorders showed the following characteristic pictures. 1) Majority of the cases(53.4%) were distributed in the decade of their sixties and male. 2) In the diagnostic distribution, 53.4% of the cases were categorized as organic mental disorder and 30.0% as major affective disorder. 3) The ratio of male patient and female patient was 4.3:1 in organic mental disorder and 2:1 in major affective disorder. 4) In the age distribution, 50.0% of the cases were categorized as organic mental disorder and 55.6% as major affective disorder. Both of the cases were aged between 60 and 64. 5) Their educational level revealed that 40.0% of the patients were primary school graduates. 6) As to the occupational distrubution, the jobless occupied the larger percentages, but patients who have job their age distribution was 60-64. 7) As to their religious affiliation the most population was 30.0% of protestant. 8) In the distribution of physical disorders, hypertension occupied the highest rate of 26.7%. 9) As to the marital status, 73.3% of the cases were living with their spouses. 10) There were no relation between premorbid social psychological stress and premorbid adaptation.

外傷後 스트레스障碍에 대한 臨床的 硏究

禹幸源 梨花女子大學校 韓國生活科學硏究院 1986 韓國生活科學硏究院 論叢 Vol.38 No.-

사회구조가 복잡해지고 산업시설 및 교통수단이 발달함에 따라, 사고에 의한 외상환자의 발생이 급격히 증가하고 있으며 의료기술의 발달로 이들 환자의 사망률은 현저히 감소되는 반면 외상 후 스트레스장애의 발생은 계속 증가하는 추세에 있다. 이 질병단위는 DSMⅢ에서 처음으로 독자적인 단위로 분류되었는바 저자는 1974년 1월1일부터 1984 12월 31일까지 지난 10년간 이화대학부속병원 신경정신과에 입원하였든 외상후 스트레스장애 환자 총63명을 연구하여 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 외상후 스트레스장애는 1980년대에 급격히 증가하였는데 청장년층의 남자에서 많고 비교적 낮은 교육수준이었고 저 소득층에 많았다. 중간계층에서 더 오래 입원하였으며 입원비 출처와 입원일수와는 상관관계가 있었다. 병전 인격 장애나 사회적응장애가 있었던 경우에 더 오래 입원하였고 중등도의 외상을 입은 환자가 심한 외상을 입은 환자 보다 더 오래 입원하였으며 지능의 저하도 더 심했다. 마지막으로 의사의 권고에 의한 퇴원을 하지 자의퇴원을 하지 않고 환자나 가족이 치료에 비협조적이었다. 63 cases(45 males and 18 females) of posttraumatic stress disorders discharged from EWHA Womens University hospital during the period from Jan. 1, 1974 to Dec. 31, 1984 were studied and the following results were obtained. 1. The frequency of posttraumatic stress disorder was increased in 1980s as we compare with 1970s. 2. The patients were predominantly males in their thirties and forties. 3. Their educational level was rather low and most of them had been employed at the time of the accidents but their economic status was low. 4. The mean duration of hospitalization was longer among the middle class patients than among the low class patients and was significantly related to the source of hospitalization fee. 5. Patients' premorbid personalities were mostly immature and their premorbid social adjustments tended to be poor. A mean duration of hospitalization of those with relatively immature premorbid personality and poor social adjustment was longer than those with relatively mature premorbid personality and social adjustment. 6. The patients who had moderate degree of injury have longer mean duration of hospitalization, and more retarded intelligence than those who had severe degree of injury. 7. Most of the patients and family were not cooperative in the psychiatric treatment and advices.

향정신성약물이 마우스 자발운동에 미치는 영향

우행원,Woo, Haing-Won 대한약리학회 1975 대한약리학잡지 Vol.11 No.1

An animal which is placed in a new environment displays a complex behavioral pattern consisting of locomotion, grooming and rearing. This behavioral pattern is influenced by endogenous and exogenous stimuli, such as hormonal secretion, level of neurohumoral transmitters, drugs and light. It is widely known that the most tranquilizers depressed spontaneous motor activity although their mechanisms of action were different, while antidepressants stimulated except imipramine which showed various action. Until the present time, the hole-board apparatus, which gives rather subjective data, has been used extensively to study the effects of drugs on general activity and exploratory behavior in mice. Recently a new apparatus for mobility measurements, called a 'Selective Activity Meter' has been introduced. This instrument supposedly produces more objective data on activity and behavior. The purpose of the present experiment was to study the influence of psychotropics on motor activity using the Selective Activity Meter. In the experiment, various psychotropic agents such as major tranquilizers(chlorpromazine, haloperidol); minor tranquilizers(meprobamate, diazepam); and antidepressants(amphetamine, imipramine) were used. In each experiment, the drug was administered to five mice and their activity was recorded. Each experiment was run five or more times and the results are based on the mean of each trial. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The group of mice treated with chlorpromazine showed markedly inhibited motor activity in comparison with controls and the inhibitory action of chlorpromazine was shown to be more intense than any of the other drugs used in the test. Haloperidol administration yielded similar results until 60 minutes, but mice showed less inhibition of motor activity than with chlorpromazine after 90 minutes. 2. In the group treated with diazepam, there was strong inhibition of motor activity until 30 minutes, but after 60 minutes the mice showed less inhibition than with chlorpromazine. In the meprobamate group, motor activity was inhibited in a manner similar to that of other tranquilizers, but the inhibition was less than that of diazepam. 3. In the group treated with imipramine, the inhibition developed gradually after ten minutes. 4. The effects of amphetamine did not appear until 30 minutes after administration, but then there was a significant increase in the motor activity.

동기간에 발생한 정신분열병환자들의 임상적 연구 : 가족역동과 가족병리를 중심으로 Focusses on Familydynamic and Familial Psychopathology

우행원 梨花女子大學校 醫科大學 醫科學硏究所 1985 EMJ (Ewha medical journal) Vol.8 No.4

Author attempted of find out whether there were any characteristic findings in the sibling schizophrenics family(family in which more than two members of sibling were schizophrenia) including clinical features, interpersonal relationship and some of sociodemographyic aspects. Data for the sample were obtained 17 schizophrenics from 8 sibling schizophrenics families who were admilted to neuropsychiatric department EWHA Womens University Hospital from March 1st 1973 to February 28th 1983. Results obtained were summerized as follows; The members of sibling were larger in the schizophrenics families than that of normal and the first born childrens and last born childrens were affectes more frequently than subseguent ones. Sibling schizophrenics were tended to be heigh educates, no employed and low middle socioeconomic class. In the familial history, sibling schizophrenic's father proband had more frequently affectes than mother proband. Usually mother's characters were found to be over protective and active but father's were indifferent and passive. Their father and mother had mother dominent and hostile relationship. Interpersonal relationship between sibling schizophrenics had relative affective(41.2%) in the majority. Comparative analysis of the above finding showed no differences from the family in which only one child was afflicted schizophrenia.

흡연이 정신분열병 환자의 임상 증상 및 혈청 Prolactin에 미치는 영향

우행원,임원정,연규월,Woo, Haing-Won,Lim, Weon-Jeong,Yun, Kyu-Wol 한국정신신체의학회 1997 정신신체의학 Vol.5 No.2

본 연구는 정신분열병 환자의 흡연성향 및 흡연이 임상양상이나 증상, 혈청 prolactin에 미치는 영향을 조사해 보고자 하였다. 연구결과는 다음과 같다. 1) 흡연군과 비흡연군의 연령, 발병연령, 이환기간, 복용하는 항정신병 약물 및 항파킨슨 약물의 용량은 유의한 차이가 없었으나, 기호 식품인 커피를 매일 한잔이상 마신다고 답한 경우가 흡연군에서 유의하게 많았다(p<0.05). 2) 흡연 이유는 긴장 완화(85.7%), 권태로움을 피하고 싶어서(45.2%), 습관(38.1%), 친구들과 어울리고 싶어서나 또는 친구를 모방(23.8%)하여 담배를 피운다고 응답했다. 80.1%가 금연을 시도했었으나, 94%에서 craving때문에 금연에 실패하였다. 금단증상으로 불안감(52.9%), 정신과적 증상의 악화(23.5%), 환청의 악화(8.8%), 약물부작용의 악화(14.7%), 졸리움의 증가(47.1%)등이 있었다. 3) BPRS 총점수는 흡연군과 비흡연군에서 유의한 차이가 없었으나, 불안척도가 흡연군에서 유의하게 낮았다(p<0.05). HAM-D에 의한 우울증상 및 SCL-90-R의 대인관계 민감도 항목과 공포증 항목이 흡연군에서 유의하게 낮았다(p<0.05). PANSS. AIMS는 두군에서 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았다. 4) 흡연군에서는 혈청 prolactin이 비흡연군에 비해 유의하게 낮았고(p<0.01) 공변량분석결과 흡연이 혈청 prolactin에 의미 있는 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다.(p<0.05). 5) 정신 분열병 환자에서 금연 유도시 적절한 항불안 약물이나 항우울 약물의 일시적인 병합치료로서 금단증상을 최소화 시켜야 하며, 환자들의 낮은 자존심 및 높은 의존심을 충족시키는 정신치료가 병행되어야 될 것으로 사료된다.hromatography를 반복(反復)하여 stilbene 계열(系列)의 화합물(化合物)인 Rhapontigenin (Compound 1)과 Rhaponticin (Compound 2)을 얻었다. S. aureus SG 511에 대(對)해 Rhapontigenin은 50 mg/ml 이상(以上) 농도(濃度)에서 항균(抗菌) 효과(效果)를 나타내었고, Rhaponticin은 $200\;mg/m{\ell}$ 농도(濃度)에서 미약(微弱)하게 유효(有效)한 항균(抗菌) 효과(效果)를 나타내었으며, B. subtilis ATCC 6633에 대(對)해 Rhapontigenin은 50 mg/ml 이상(以上) 농도(濃度)에서 항균(抗菌) 효과(效果)를 나타내었고, Rhaponticin은 200 mg/ml 농도(濃度)에서 우수(優秀)한 항균(抗菌) 효과(效果)를 나타내었으며, 100 mg/ml 농도(濃度)에서 미약(微弱)하게 유효(有效)한 항균(抗菌) 효과(效果)를 나타내었다. 또한 E. coli 055에 대(對)해서는 Rhapontigenin과 Rhaponticin 모두 200 mg/ml 농도(濃度)에서 미약(微弱)하게 유효(有效)한 항균(抗菌) 효과(效果)를 나타내었다. 이상(以上)의 결과(結果)로 보아 선방활명음(仙方活命飮)의 항균(抗菌) 효능(效能)은 군약(君藥)인 대황(大黃)의 성분(成分) 중(中)의 하나인 stilbene 계열(系列)의 화합물(化合物)인 Rhapontigenin과 Rhaponticin의 작용(作用)에 의(依)한 것이며, 이는 한의학(韓醫學) 방제(方劑) 원리(原理)인 군신좌사(君臣佐使) 이론(理論)에서 군약(君藥)이 주증(主症)에 주(主)로 작용(作用)하는 약물(藥物)이라는 것을 밝혀주는 것이라고 사료(思料)된다. This study was performed to evaluate the characteristics of smoking behavior and the effects of smoking on clinical symptoms and level of serum prolactin in schizophrenic patients. Methods : 76 male schizophrenic patients answered the questionnaire about the characteristics of smoking patterns. And patients were assessed by brief psychiatric rating scale(BPRS), positive and negative syndrome scle(PANSS), Hamilton rating scale for depression(HAM-D), assessment for involuntary movement scale(AIMS) and symptom checklist 90 R(SCL-90-R). Serum prolactin levels were measured by enzymeimmunoassay. Results: 1) The frequences of drinking coffee were significantly higher in smokers. The reasons for smoking were to relieve tension, to avoid boredom, due to habit and to do with friends. 80.1% of smokers tried quitting, but smoking was relapsed due to craving and withdrawal symptoms. 2) No significant difference was seen in mean neuropeltic doses, scores of PANSS and AIMS. But as for BPRS, scores of anxiety/depression subscale were significanly lower in smokers. Scores of HAM-D and scores of interpersonal sensitivity and phobia among SCL-90-R were significantly lower. 3) Levels of serum prolactin were significanlty lower in smokers. Conclusion : These findings suggest that in schisophrenia smoking relieves anxiety and depression subjectively But decreased prolactin levels may suggest that the possibility of increased dopamine in CNS.

우울증 환자에서의 호중구 및 임파구 기능장애

우행원 大韓神經精神醫學會 1989 신경정신의학 Vol.28 No.4

Regulation of the quantity of different types of leukocytes has not been adequately investigated in patients with psychiatric illness. Kronfol et al have noted a significant association between leukocyosis, neutrophilia, and mania, and lymphopenia and depression. In this study, leukocytes especially neutrophills and lymphocytes were counted in 20 untreated depressive patients, 43 untreated schizophrenic patients and 36 neurotic patients. A significant increase numbers of neurophils and significant decrease in the numbers of lymphocytes were found in the depressive patients. Furthermore, when compared to normative values from the general population, depressive patients showed higher frequencies of both reutrophilia and lymphopenia than the schizophrenic and neurotic patients. Glucocorticoids have for a long time been associated with hematologic changes consisting of neutrophlia and lymphopenia. Changes very similar to this, were observed in depressed patients in this study. Since depression is more frequently associated with hypercortisolemia than are the schizoprenic disorder and neurosis, it is reasonable to attribute the hematologic differences between depression and, schizophrenic disorder and neurosis, at least in part, to excess cortisol in the depressive patients. However, since cortisol levels were not obtained in my patients, this issue remains a matter of speculation but regardless of the mechanism involved, the present data indicate significant differencs in the regulation of blood cell elements in depressive, schizoprenic and neurotic patients.