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This volume on psychiatric syndromes follows one on psychiatric symptoms by the same author. Psychodynamics and therapeutics are considered outside the scope of this volume, which is limited to a detailed, classically nosological description of psychopathology according to a strictly organic, biological viewpoint. In the foreword, the 1957 International Congress of Zurich is hailed as endorsement for such an orientation. Consequently, hereditary, constitutional, somatic, physiological, and chemical factors are stressed as underlying etiological components in any form of behavior pathology, ranging from psychopathy to hysteria. Each syndrome is described in terms of well-assembled, well-integrated, and outlined somatic and “humoral” causes. Attention is especially given to mental deficiency, epilepsy, toxic and venereal disorders, senility, and intracranial and cerebral disturbances. Surprisingly enough, there is a complete classification of language disturbances in schizophrenia, which is not, however, incorporated in the general biological persuasion of the text.
The biological orientation produces