Thursday, December 2, 2010

General Paralysis of the Insane

Dementia Paralytica, or General Paralysis of the Insane (GPI), accounted for 13% of admissions to mental hospitals at the beginning of the 1900s. First described in 1798, the symptoms of GPI included loss of personality and memories, mania, poor judgment, apathy, violence, and convulsions. It was eventually fatal. Today GPI accounts for no admissions to mental hospitals. It has disappeared.

Wonder why?

3 comments:

  1. I think it's still here. Just listed as symptoms when patients are diagnosed with other mental illnesses.
    Kathi

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  2. Since Syphilis is treated successfully with antibiotics these days, it never advances to the stages where the above symptoms appear. This is why it was misdiagnosed as a mental condition originally and why there are not many reports of it today. Do I get a free bowl of soup now that I have taken the time to answer the question.

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  3. Right Rod. No bowl of soup, but I'll send you a tie dye bandanna for your time. My wife makes them @tinastiedye.com.

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