[Psychosomatic aspects of asymptomatic hirsutismus (author's transl)].

In a statistical study the somatic and psychic variables of 42 unselected women were evaluated who were seen with the presenting symptom of hirsutismus at a medical out-patient department. An organic source for the hirsutismus was excluded. The mean 17-ketosteroid values and the plasma testosterone values were normal. The following results were obtained: Patients with hirsutismus do not have specific personality traits. Hirsutismus is not a psychosomatic disease. There is not endocrine psycho-syndrome in hirsutismus. The suffering from hirsutismus is independent of the objective degree of hirsutismus. Women with the presenting symptom of hirsutismus regard their male type of body hair as a scapegoat and as the cause for their problems which in reality are neurotic problems. Unless contraception is desirable, we do not suggest treatment of hirsutismus with Cyproteronacetate.