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A total of 71 patients (12 males and 59 females) who attended the University Skin Clinic of Basle in the years 1956-1982, have been investigated by a dermatologist, a psychiatrist and a psychologist. Among 55 female patients (group I and II) 14 had a suicide attempt in their history. Of the 39 female patients of group I 25 (64%) had suffered from a stressful childhood event. Of group I (39 female patients) 19 (48.7%) had had psychiatric therapy in the past or at the time of investigation; 23 patients (59%) had suffered from depressions either in the past or at the time of investigation. Among group II (16 patients) 11 (68.7%) had had psychiatric therapy in the past or at the time of investigation. The psychological test investigation (Colour Pyramid Test and Rosenzweig Picture-Frustration Test) revealed artefact patients to be in a state of considerable depressive-aggressive tension without being able to handle their emotions and impulses in an adequate manner.

New knowledge of the function and biological behaviour of the cells of the lymphocytic system justifies a critical reappraisal of the nature and origin of mycosis fungoides (MF). The fact that in MF the immune response remains active during the whole course of the disease distinguishes it from other malignant processes. On the basis of the well-known fact that chronic stimulation of the immunological system may lead to tumour formation, the hypothesis is stressed that MF may be an ‘immunocytoma’ or ‘immunoma’. New findings indicate that immunological stimulation of lymphocytes may lead to the formation of endogenous oncogenic viruses. All these questions should be investigated in as many centres as possible.

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