The British Journal of Psychiatry (2000) 177: 471
© 2000 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Mental diseases affecting the young
Researched by Henry Rollin, Emeritus Consultant Psychiatrist, Horton
Hospital, Epsom, Surrey
Dr F. Magnier, in his Thèse de
Paris, 1900, shows that apart from idiocy and imbecility there are
well-marked and characteristic mental diseases affecting the young before
adult life is reached. Among these affections dementia præcox, as
already shown in these columns (The Lancet, February 10, 1900, p.
397) holds a prominent place. The others include acute mental confusion, acute
delirium, folie périodique, menstrual
psychoses, and paranoia. As regards acute mental confusion it is pointed out
that whereas Meynert considered the age of election of this disease to be
between 20 and 30 years, several cases have been recorded of its occurrence
earlier. Thus Trenel has recorded its occurrence at nine years of age in a
girl, of alcoholic and neurotic parentage, consequent upon fright, and
Mannheimer has recorded other cases in girls below the age of 20 years. Acute
delirium with high temperature and adynamia ending fatally is recorded in two
cases by Dr Magnier, both of which occurred in females of the age of 19 years
and 26 years respectively. Periodic insanity in 80 per cent of cases begins
before the age of 25 years, the depressive form occurring especially in the
decade between 20 and 30 years of age. Dr Magnier points out that an insane
heredity is present in 80 per cent of the cases, and he cites the case of a
girl with periodic insanity which had its onset at the age of 14 years and was
marked by agitation, insomnia, and mutism, while in a second case the disease
began at the age of 12 years and was marked by suicidal impulses. Two other
cases commenced at the age of 18 years and one at the age of 29 years and a
month after parturition. The menstrual psychoses are characterised by
agitation, loquacity (singing and talking incessantly), and hallucinations of
sight and hearing. They occur during menstruation and subside soon after and
recur with the menses. The clinical type is that of adolescent insanity.
Though paranoia is a disease of adult life yet transitory excitement may occur
in youth from time to time as a prodrome. Thus in one case symptoms of
suspicion and auditory hallucination began at the age of 22 years and three
years later the delusions became well marked. Another commenced at the age of
21 years. From the facts and cases recorded in Dr Magnier's
Thèse it thus appears that the period
of youth and adolescence is liable to develop a variety of mental
affections.
REFERENCES
Lancet, 20 October 1900,
1150.
