[Psychological profile of the spa user. Preliminary study of motivations for spa treatment].

The main psychological and possible psychopathological traits of the spa user are identified and classified in order to clarify motivational aspects. Two different self-assessment tests, the Middlesex Hospital Questionnaire (MHQ) and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) were given, the first to 500 subjects who had undergone spa treatment cycles lasting at least 10 days and the second to a control group of 50. MHQ data showed a significant incidence of certain neurotic traits, especially phobia, obsession and somatisation in the first group. Despite their different areas of competence and survey methods, both questionnaires produced results to support the hypothesis that a particular form of neurosis may play a significant part in motivating recourse to spa treatment.