[The psychological behavior of tumor patients with agranulocytosis under conditions of isolation].

31 patients with severe leukopenia, including 27 with neoplastic diseases, were treated in a germfree isolator system for a total of 767 days. For this purpose the patients were informed of their diagnosis. Deprivation syndromes as well as aggressive and regressive behaviour patterns were the most common psychological reactions to isolation. In no instance was the isolation terminated because of psychological complications. A variety of factors are of particular importance in the guidance of isolated cancer patients: confidence in medical treatments, adequate information about the disease and therapeutic goals, firm human interrelationships and active participation of the patient in the therapeutic program. These are principles which can also be applied in the psychological approach to cancer patients in general.