To the origins of the 'unitary psychosis' doctrine: from Aretaeus to V. Chiarugi

Abstract

The concepts of the authors of 'unitary psychosis' doctrine preceeding the famous concepts of the XIX-th century authors J. Guislain, A. Zeller and W. Griesinger are analyzed. The beginnings of unitary psychosis doctrine are presented in the works of the antiquity period physician Aretaeus the Cappadician (II century), the founder of neurology, the English physician Thomas Willis (XVII century), the author of the term 'neurosis', the Scottish physician W. Cullen and the Florentine psychiatrist V. Chiarugi (XVIII century). The notions of partial and general insanity and some counter-arguments of the opponents of unitary psychosis concept are also discussed.