[Psychogenic reaction: course and prognostic factors].

A follow-up was made of ninety patients with a diagnosed psychogenic reaction (adjustment disorder) fourteen years after the index hospitalisation. Contrary to expectation, at the follow-up only half of the patients showed no symptoms of the illness. Approximately a quarter of the patients suffered from a more serious illness (drug dependence, schizophrenia or organic mental disorder) than the index diagnosis. The other quarter showed symptoms of a psychogenic disorder (neurotic disorder, personality disorder, adjustment disorder). A number of factors which describe the course of the illness leading to the index hospitalisation permit a prediction of the outcome of the disease.