Psychiatric Observations on Attacks of Gout in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis

The case of a 37-year-old man with ulcerative colitis and gout is presented. During 3 years of psychiatric treatment attacks of colitis and attacks of gout were repeatedly observed. Attacks of colitis occurred in situations where the patient was coerced and intruded upon and, less frequently, when scoptophilic and sadomasochistic homosexual fantasies were activated. Attacks of gout occurred in situations involving separation from his mother or from one of his physicians or when issues of independence, activity, and self-reliance were discussed. The case is of interest because of the rarity with which ulcerative colitis and gout are associated and because of the paucity of observations in the literature on the psychological aspects of gout.