The Health bulletin [serial] - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

;
16 The Health Bulletin July, 1927
too severe, or commonly because both
conditions existed. A woman who develops
a psychoses following the process
of labor is an example in which
the zone of resistance has given way
under a normal female function, and
such cases are classified as Dementia
Praecox. Heredity is an important factor
in the production of mental disease,
and it is said the praecox breeds
true to form. Andre Tridor, however,
states, "Most of our heredity is a
pseudo heredity, which being simply
the shaping influence of our environments,
can be defeated as soon as we
realize that it is not working for our
welfare." He cites a case where a
woman was reared as an irresponsible
person and later made an unpleasant
marriage. Instead of re-educating her,
she accepted her relatives' dictum that
she was ci'azy and became crazy. Dementia
Praecox, then, is an escape from
reality. If one's environments become
unpleasant, if a marriage is distasteful,
the psychoses develops as an escape
from it, and the individual flees into
his phantom world, and, in the praecox,
builds up air castles, and is usually a
happy person. For this reason, Freud
does not attempt to psycho-analyze his
praecox cases. The analysis, if successful,
would simply destroy the world
into which the praecox has escaped
and enjoyed, and if this is accomplished,
you would leave him desolate.
Brill, however, does analyze them.
The unconscious wish is really behind
the nature of a person's behavior, and
the basis of so-called mental sickness.
The treatment of praecox would first
of all be preventive measures by studies
of childhood psychopathology
mental hygiene in schools ; better adjustment
of pre-psychotic individuals
as well as of so-called normals. Institutional
care of patients during outbreaks
to prevent suicide and protect
the community ; removal of infection
and accompanying disease. Frank discussion
of a patient's problems and
assets, and the situation he has to
meet. Psychoanalytical procedures
may be a help in early cases. Occupational
therapy to produce action and
restore self-confidence. Careful psychiatric
social service follows up and
supervision may reclaim many of these
individuals after they are discharged
back to the community.
'