PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF GENITAL HERPES, AN EXPLORATORY-STUDY WITH A GONORRHEA CONTROL-GROUP

Measurements of some psychosocial variables were obtained from 27 pati ents with a genital herpes infection and compared with those from 12 p atients with a gonorrhea infection. The measurements referred to the p eriod before and during the infection. Evidence was found that during the infection patients were more anxious, more sexually inhibited, mor e bitter towards their partners, and had more psychological complaints than before the infection. Generally there was no difference between the two groups of patients, with one exception: patients with genital herpes judged themselves as having fewer psychological complaints prio r to the disease than did patients with gonorrhea.