Benign Stupors: A Study of a New Manic-Depressive Reaction TypeHoch, August
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Benign Stupors: A Study of a New Manic-Depressive Reaction Type
Hoch, August
Manic-depressive illness; Stupor
The following are some examples of the statements of the somatopsychic
group: Laura A.: “I can’t move,” and retrospectively, “My arms were
stiff.” Bridget B. claimed retrospectively that she felt dead or
drugged, that her limbs were lifeless, she felt as if she had lockjaw.
Johanna B. remembered being pricked with a pin on several occasions but
claimed that she did not feel the pain at any time. This suggests a
definitely hysterical mechanism. Anna L. (Case 16) said retrospectively
that she felt as if she were dead, although walking around, and also
that she thought she was a ghost and not supposed to speak. Anna M. said
she had tried to speak but everything stuck in her throat. Alice R. said
that she had no energy, did not want to talk. Meta S. (Case 15) claimed
that while stuporous her tongue would not move. Isabella M. in
intervals claimed that during the stuporous periods she felt as if dead
and said retrospectively when the whole psychosis was over that it was
“an effort to speak.” Johanna S. (Case 13), while stuporous when pressed
with questions would say: “I can’t think,” “I don’t know,” “I am
twisted.” When food was offered her she protested, “I am dead.”
Charlotte W. (Case 12), in reviewing her case, said: “I was mesmerized,”
“I thought I was dead.” Anna G. (Case 1), in retrospect said: “I don’t
think I could speak,” again “I made no effort,” or “I did not care to
speak.” Henrietta H. (Case 8) said, “I lost speech.” She claimed that
she did not move because she was tired and had a numb feeling. Mary C.
(Case 7) said that her tongue had been thick and that she felt dull.
Rose Sch. (Case 6) said during the psychosis that her head was upside
down and retrospectively that she had been mixed up, could not remember
well, did not feel like talking. Mary D. (Case 4) said that she had been
dazed, that she had not felt like talking, and that her limbs “were
stiff like.” We should probably also include here as a delusion of death
the statement of Annie K. (Case 5) who wanted to die and thought she
would do so if she kept still enough.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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