Precursors of Premature Disease and Death: Habits of Nervous Tension

Patterns of habits of nervous tension recorded by medical students who later developed cancer, coronary occlusion, hypertension, or mental illness, or who later completed suicide, were compared with those of students who remained healthy 15 to 30 years later. The suicide group reported more difficulty sleeping, more urinary frequency, more loss of appetite, more urge to be alone, more irritability & less urge to confide. The item, “urge to be alone” was found to be especially significant.