Abstract

IN THIS report are compared the courses of illness of two series of patients with involutional psychoses, one treated with electric shock and the other not so treated. An analysis of certain factors possibly related to the course is also presented. Involutional psychosis is a psychosis occurring in middle life and the following years, without evidence of either organic intellectual defects or a previous affective disorder. The subtype melancholia is characterized mainly by agitation and depression, with a mental content of self condemnation, hopelessness and a tendency toward hypochondriasis. The paranoid subtype shows delusions of persecution or grandiosity, suspiciousness and misinterpretations. The mixed subtype is a combination of these two types, with the addition of strong somatic delusions in some cases. MATERIALS AND TECHNIC The control group consisted of patients hospitalized from 1930 to 1939, inclusive, and given hydrotherapy, psychotherapy, participation in group activities and occupational therapy. None received any

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call