An examination of the clinico-pathological evidence offered for
the concept of dementia præcox as a specific disease entity presents the following conclusions:1. There are many contradictory opinions expressed on the topic of
a uniform anatomical basis to this disorder. There has been no
satisfactory correlation made between the so-called classical groups
of dementia præcox and specific anatomical findings.2. The same histopathological findings which are reported as being specific for these groups are also reported as being present in a variety of organic and toxic conditions.3. There is no uniformity to be found in the various
clinical contributions as to what constitutes a dementia
præcox reaction.4. The attempt to group these heterogeneous findings into a specific disease entity comparable to that of general paralysis has proven to be progressively less productive of constructive formulations over a period of 50 years of intensive research.Abstract Teaser