Abstract
Fifty five cases of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were examined by the egogram (TEG) and the Rorschach test. The purpose of this study was to understand the ego states of the RA patients and then to find some methods for the care of their lives. The controls were thirteen cases of the patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and forty normals. The results of the Rorschach test were corresponded to the ego states of the TEG. The RA patients showed high points in NP and low points in FC than controls. Their patterns belonged to a bit flat N type. The results of SLE patients were high in NP and AC, and those of the normals were relatively high in NP and FC. These results did not correlate to the duration of illness. The cases with severe joint deformity tended to show much higher scores in NP. We hope that the RA patients will be cared taking into consideration of their psychological aspects and their quality of life.
