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Observations on the Evolution of the Hysterical Symptomatology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

C. N. Stefanis ,
M. P. Markidis  and
G. N. Christodoulou
C. N. Stefanis
Affiliation:
Athens University Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, 74 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, Athens, Greece
M. P. Markidis
Affiliation:
Athens University Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, 74 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, Athens, Greece
G. N. Christodoulou
Affiliation:
Athens University Department of Psychiatry, Eginition Hospital, 74 Vasilissis Sophias Avenue, Athens, Greece
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Summary

A retrospective study of the records of 17,571 psychiatric patients who attended the out-patients department of Eginition Hospital in Athens during three two-year periods (1948–50, 1958–60 and 1969–71) revealed a statistically significant decrease in the frequency of patients diagnosed as suffering from hysteria, a statistically significant decrease in the relative frequency of patients with hysterical fits and with mental conversion symptoms, and a statistically significant increase in the relative frequency of patients with mixed conversion symptoms. The findings confirm the notion that hysteria is still a ‘woman's disease’, although a statistically significant increase in male participation was noted. The significance of the above findings for the understanding of certain aspects of hysteria is discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 128 , Issue 3 , March 1976 , pp. 269 - 275
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1976 

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