Historical note: "the epileptic constitution": the psychoanalytic concept of epilepsy.
The rise of the psychoanalytic approach to behavioral medicine in the early part of the 20th century created a unique concept of the nature and the aetiology of epilepsy based upon dynamic psychopathology. As a direct result of this a radical change in both medical and community perception of this condition was generated, and this was to persist up to and beyond the mid-century mark. This historical note details the adoption, and the rise and fall of this concept of "the epileptic constitution", and a consideration of the negative effects that flowed from this, permeating all areas of psychiatry, neurology and even the criminal justice system.
Comprehensive Epilepsy Program, Austin-Repatriation Medical Centre, Melbourne, Australia. pbladin@compuserve.com
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D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007046:Hysteria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history; D009462:Neurology / Q000266:history; D011572:Psychoanalysis / Q000266:history*; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory