'n Klinies-diagnostiese ondersoek na persoonlikheidsaspekte van twee groepe porfirie-lyers

Abstract

Porphyria, a metabolic aberrant condition which is transmitted genetically from one generation to the next, is also often called the disease that strikes in the dark. Because the number of sufferers of porphyria in the Republic of South Africa has shown a significant increase, there is a growing amount of interest not only in the nature of the disease and the specific symptomatology, but by implication also in concrete rendition of aid, The latter includes amongs others complete diagnosis of all facets of the problem. Intensive work has already been done on the basic principles of heredity which play a role here, as well as on symptoms of a more physical or somatic nature, Although there are frequent references in available literature on emotional problems as a part of the total symtomatology of the porphyria sufferer, it is on the one hand disappointingly vague and on the other hand no effort has been made in the RSA to delineate and confirm these references more clearly through empirical study. It has therefore become the objective of this study to investigate in a scientifically-founded manner the total personality of a combined group of South African porphyria sufferers, and to compare and evaluate the findings normatively.