The Effect of Emotion on the Basal Metabolism.

Abstract

The experiments here reported were undertaken as part of a study on the relation of the nervous symptoms and the basal metabolism in exophthalmic goiter. There is evidence that these two may not be manifestatons of the same disturbed function. 1

Twelve hospital patients in the surgical ward for various disturbances, and with varying degrees of emotional reaction were told that they would be operated on the following morning. No drugs were given. The basal metabolism had been studied and was also done the day before operation. On the morning of operation, metabolism was again taken before the patient left for the operating room. In none of these cases was there any change in the basal metabolism, although a few showed variations in pulse and blood pressure. A second group of twelve patients with the symptoms of toxic thyroid was chosen. Basal metabolisms were done frequently during the course of preparation for operation, which preparation in this group always included the administration of Lugol's solution. A metabolism was again done on the morning before operation and on the day of operation after the patient had been told the time of operation. Again in this series no significant rise of metabolism was seen in any case, nor were there significant changes in pulse or bloodpressure.

It was realized that patients who had'been thoroughly prepared for operation by iodine showed no change. Then it was decided to select a small series of carefully chosen toxic goiters who had not been so treated. The results in this group of patients were in striking contrast to those so far reported. Five individuals are in this group. In four cases the rise in metabolism was from 20 per cent to 35 per cent over the metabolism of the day before, and in one case the rise was 132 per cent.