Classification of asthenic conditions (reactions, phases) in psychopathy
Sokolovskaia, L.V.
Zhurnal Nevropatologii i Psikhiatrii Imeni S.S. Korsakova 89(11): 110-114
1989
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-4588 PMID: 2624037 Document Number: 341950
Analysis of asthenic reactions and phases that occur periodically in persons suffering from psychopathies of the sthemic pole (33 cases) has demonstrated that the structure of the syndrome is determined by the combination of the two signs: phenomena of irritative weakness and symptomatology of the somatopsychic circle. Two types of asthenic conditions were distinguished: conversion and psychovegetative asthenia. As to the first type, the asthenic manifestations proper were of the demonstrative-exaggerated character, whereas somatopsychic disorders occurred in accordance with the hysterical conversion mechanism. Consequently, the structure of the syndrome is marked by the predominance of characteristic abnormalities in the sphere of somatopsychics (bodily hysterical stigmas, with the intensity of ergic disorders being minimum). As to the second type, asthenia was marked by relatively uniform ergic and somatopsychic manifestations. The latter ones (algias, sleep disturbances, "pseudosomatic" crises) as if masked asthenia proper. The typological differentiation of asthenic disorders provided here is adequate to the nature of the constitutional proneness as a system of factors that determine the clinical differences. Conversion asthenia occurs preferably in persons of the histrionic and excitable mould whereas psychovegetative asthenia in persons showing the predominance of anancastic and expansive schizoid traits.