THE RÔLE OF THE PREMORBID PERSONALITY IN ARTERIOSCLEROTIC PSYCHOSES
DAVID ROTHSCHILD M. D.1
1 The Foxborough State Hospital, Foxboro, Mass.
A study of the clinical-anatomic relationships in arteriosclerotic psychoses reveals numerous inconsistencies, which indicate that different persons vary greatly in their ability to withstand cerebral damage.
The observations suggest that individuals who are in any way handicapped psychologically are highly vulnerable to arteriosclerotic psychoses. A considerable number of patients displayed inadequate and unstable personalities; less frequently, situational stress was noted. Such patients break down mentally in the face of damage which persons of a stable make-up could successfully withstand.
Extensive cerebral changes may produce a psychosis in anyone, but the anatomic factor can be regarded as all-important in only a minority of the group. In the other cases, responsibility for the psychosis is shared by factors of personality.
