Aspects of personality in patients with pituitary adenomas.

In 24 patients suffering from pituitary tumours, aspects of personality as covered by the FPI (Freiburger Personality Inventory), the Giessen test and the STAI (State-Trait-Anxiety Inventory) were investigated in order to find out changes or problems which demand special treatment. The most interesting result concerns state- and trait-anxiety scores being increased pre-surgically and normalizing to some extent after treatment. Most of the other explored aspects did not show but tendencies which demand further investigation. Relationships between hormone levels and tumour size could not be shown. As a result of this investigation, special psychological treatment should be considered in acromegaly and Cushing's disease.