Psychopathic States
- Author:
Henderson,
M.D., Professor of Psychiatry, University of Edinburgh; Physician-Superintendent, Royal Edinburgh Hospital for Nervous and Mental Disorders. Chapman & Hall. Pp. 178. 8/6.
Here we have a subject which, under various labels, has defied adequate definition. It is easier to say what psychopathic states are not, rather than what they are, and therefore this classification has been liable to be used as a dumping ground for conditions which do not conform to established clinical entities. The term psychopathic state does not apply to individuals who are mentally defective or frankly psychotic, but in Professor Henderson’s words those ” who throughout their lives, or from a comparatively early age, have exhibited disorders of conduct of an anti-social or asocial nature, usually of a recurrent or episodic type, which, in many instances, have proved difficult to influence by methods of social, penal and medical care and treatment… He speaks of ” an instability, queerness, explosiveness, intuitiveness and egocentricitv which form the picture of the psychopathic states
This book, which is based on the Thomas W. Salmon Memorial Lectures given by the author, is divided into three main parts; the place of psychopathic states in Psychiatry, their clinical manifestations, and the needs for social rehabilitation. It is a strong plea for the study, understanding and remedial care of these cases. The author attempts the difficult task of classifying these states and suggests that they fall into three groups, based on personality types, namely, those who are predominantly aggressive, predominantly inadequate and predominantly creative. He inevitably raises the question of the relative importance of and relation between innate qualities and environmental influences in the causation of conduct disorders, and while not detailing his argument, seems to hold the view that constitutional loading is a more important factor than is generally recognised.
A particularly interesting feature is the illustrative clinical material in the form of numerous pithy case histories, and the book as a whole, with its practical appeal to all workers in the mental health field, is constantly stimulating of thought. F.H.
Disclaimer
The historical material in this project falls into one of three categories for clearances and permissions:
Material currently under copyright, made available with a Creative Commons license chosen by the publisher.
Material that is in the public domain
Material identified by the Welcome Trust as an Orphan Work, made available with a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
While we are in the process of adding metadata to the articles, please check the article at its original source for specific copyrights.