Again, because hysteria was such a broad category, I always assumed that what we'd now call anxiety disorders must have played a significant role in some of the cases. Beth Benoit Granite State College Plymouth State University New Hampshire
On Thu, Dec 3, 2009 at 4:34 PM, Paul Brandon <[email protected]> wrote: > Q1: Beware of simply substituting labels; what were thought to be > natural fracture points between classes of phenomena fifty years ago are not > so regarded now. > > Q2: Or possibly 'iatrogenic' (a condition created or made worse by a > treatment). There is always a third possibility beyond 'made better' and > 'no effect'. > > On Dec 3, 2009, at 3:13 PM, Lilienfeld, Scott O wrote: > > Hi Annette - Q1 is complicated, and doesn't have a clear-cut answer, >> largely because hysteria was such a remarkably broad category. But by and >> large, though, what was then called "hysteria" probably largely subsumes >> what are now somatoform disorders (especially somatization disorder and >> conversion disorder) and dissociative disorders (e.g., dissociative amnesia, >> dissociative fugue, dissociative identity disorder, once called multiple >> personality disorder) - which were split into separate categories in 1980 in >> DSM-III (a decision that is still debated). For a discussion, see Hyler and >> Spitzer (1978): >> >> http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/135/12/1500 >> >> >> Answer to Q2 is indeterminate, but the best informed guess is probably >> "None." >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] >> Sent: Thursday, December 03, 2009 3:32 PM >> To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences (TIPS) >> Subject: [tips] Help with hysteria >> >> One of the students in my intro psych course is writing a paper for her >> English class on hysteria. >> >> I am not a clinician and I have a very limited ability to answer her >> questions she asked me. I could probably google some information--but then >> so could she. I know wikipedia has a good treatise. >> >> Specifically, she'd like to know two things: >> (1) what do we now label the disorders that used to be called hysteria. >> >> (2) what effect did the "old-fashioned" treatment for hysteria have on >> those disorders. >> >> Well, I know a little bit such as these are now pretty much subsumed by >> somatoform disorders and I have a sense that the treatments were quite >> ineffective back in the day when the diagnosis of hysteria was quite in >> vogue, such as complete sensory deprivation, isolation, a slap in the face, >> or cold water in the face, probaby just make the person more hysterical. >> Then along came psychoanalysis. Not sure how much that helped other than for >> factors common to most therapeutic interventions that are at least "kindly". >> >> So any specific guidance to sources would be appreciated. >> > > Paul Brandon > Emeritus Professor of Psychology > Minnesota State University, Mankato > [email protected] > > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
