[Evidence of the political use of medical science in a Brazilian newspaper article on the Chilean president José Manuel Balmaceda in 1891]. / Evidencias del uso político de la ciencia médica en un artículo de la prensa brasileña alusivo al presidente de Chile José Manuel Balmaceda en 1891.

In the midst of the Civil War in Chile in 1891, the Brazilian newspaper Diário de Campinas published an article entitled "Balmaceda," by Joaquim Nogueira de Sá Itagiba, which analyzes the delirium of Chilean politician José Manuel Balmaceda, president of the Republic from 1886 to 1891 in order to explain his behavior, which it defines as characteristic of a dictator and a tyrant. The article makes liberal use of various psychiatric theories that sought to identify the criminal subject in response to ideals of social normalization. The article was part of the book La prensa extranjera y la dictadura chilena, by Alberto Fagalde, published in 1891, in Chile.

En medio de la Guerra Civil ocurrida en Chile el año 1891, apareció publicado en el periódico brasileño Diário de Campinas el artículo titulado "Balmaceda", de autoría de Joaquim Nogueira de Sá Itagiba, donde analiza el delirio del político chileno José Manuel Balmaceda, presidente de la República entre 1886 y 1891, explicando su comportamiento, definido como el característico del dictador y el tirano. El artículo es pródigo en la utilización de diversas teorías alienistas que intentan identificar al sujeto criminal, respondiendo a los ideales de normalización social. El artículo forma parte del libro La prensa extranjera y la dictadura chilena, de Alberto Fagalde, publicado en 1891, en Chile.

Evidencias del uso político de la ciencia médica en un artículo de la prensa brasileña alusivo al presidente de Chile José Manuel Balmaceda en 1891 / Evidence of the political use of medical science in a Brazilian newspaper article on the Chilean president José Manuel Balmaceda in 1891

Resumen En medio de la Guerra Civil ocurrida en Chile el año 1891, apareció publicado en el periódico brasileño Diário de Campinas el artículo titulado "Balmaceda", de autoría de Joaquim Nogueira de Sá Itagiba, donde analiza el delirio del político chileno José Manuel Balmaceda, presidente de la República entre 1886 y 1891, explicando su comportamiento, definido como el característico del dictador y el tirano. El artículo es pródigo en la utilización de diversas teorías alienistas que intentan identificar al sujeto criminal, respondiendo a los ideales de normalización social. El artículo forma parte del libro La prensa extranjera y la dictadura chilena, de Alberto Fagalde, publicado en 1891, en Chile.

Abstract In the midst of the Civil War in Chile in 1891, the Brazilian newspaper Diário de Campinas published an article entitled "Balmaceda," by Joaquim Nogueira de Sá Itagiba, which analyzes the delirium of Chilean politician José Manuel Balmaceda, president of the Republic from 1886 to 1891 in order to explain his behavior, which it defines as characteristic of a dictator and a tyrant. The article makes liberal use of various psychiatric theories that sought to identify the criminal subject in response to ideals of social normalization. The article was part of the book La prensa extranjera y la dictadura chilena, by Alberto Fagalde, published in 1891, in Chile.

"Nabucco" by Giuseppe Verdi: A Case of Delirium in an Italian Romantic Opera.

Italian operas can provide relevant information on the medical knowledge during the Romantic Age, especially in the field of neuroscience. One of the most renowned operas, "Nabucco" by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901) may provide us with some information on the state of knowledge on neuropsychiatric diseases in the first part of the nineteenth century. The main character of this opera, the Assyrian king Nabucco suffers from delirium. Psychic signs and symptoms attributed to Nabucco in Verdi's opera could have been influenced by a better knowledge of neuropsychiatric diseases in the nineteenth century. Furthermore, the representation of Nabucco's mental illness in the opera could also have been influenced by direct experiences of Verdi himself, who seems to have suffered from recurrent depressive episodes in that period, and for the rest of his life.

From Georgia to Jerusalem: some Medical Aspects of "The Knight in the Panther's Skin" by Shota Rustaveli.

The Georgian poet Rustaveli wrote his epic poem The Knight in the Panther's Skin around 1200. He knew the works of Hippocrates and Galen, and believed in the unity of body and soul.Thereare many references to health and medicine in the poem, and we shall highlight some of them. In 1185 Rustaveli left Georgia and settled in Jerusalem. There he lived and died at the Monastery of the Cross, where he was buried.

Delirium: its historical evolution and current interpretation.

Delirium was one of the first mental disorders ever to be described, though it remains an elusive concept to this day. Historically, delirium has developed from the prototype of acute confusion with psychomotor agitation. It was thought to be caused by the withdrawal of substance dependence or severe somatic diseases accompanying by fever; however only in the 20th century, it was concluded that delirium and similar states manifest themselves as a consciousness disorder, and is not a specific state of somatic diseases. Four core features defines delirium at present: a disturbance of consciousness, a disturbance of cognition, limited course and external causation. However, these features do not include common manifestations of delirium in elderly patients with dementia; therefore the concept of delirium should be revised and corrected.

Delirium e confusão mental no século XIX: uma história conceitual / Delirium and confusion in the 19th century: a conceptual history / Le délire et la confusion au XIX e siècle: une histoire conceptuelle / El delirium y la confusión en el sigo XIX: una historia conceptual

O delirium permaneceu uma categoria psiquiátrica estável até o início do século XIX, quando passou por uma redefinição etiológica efenomenológica, precipitando a transformação das insanidades funcionais em psicoses.A confusão, introduzida pelos franceses ao longo da segunda metade do século, referia-se a uma síndrome mais ampla (porém incluindo) o delirium. Enfatizava o pensamento caótico e as falhas cognitivas. A noção de turvação da consciência (e desorientação temporoespacial) estabeleceu um denominador comum para as duas concepções, enquanto Chaslin e Bonhoeffer redefiniram a confusão eo delirium como as manifestações estereotipadas da insuficiência cerebral aguda.

Delirium remained a stable psychiatric category until the early 19th century whenit underwent aetiological and phenomenological redefinition, precipitating the transformation of the functional insanities into psychoses. Confusion, introduced by the French during the second half of the century, referred to a syndrome wider than (butincluding) delirium. It emphasized chaotic thinking and cognitive failure. The notionof clouding of consciousness (and tempora-spatial disorientation) established acommon denominator for the two concepts, while Chaslin and Bonhoeffer redefined confusion and delirium asthe stereotyped manifestations of acute brain failure.

El delirium permaneció una categoría psiquiátrica estable hasta inicios de sigloXIX, cuando pasó por una redefinición etiológica e fenomenológica, precipitando latransformación de las insanias funcionales en psicosis.La confusión, introducida por los franceses a lo largo de la segunda mitad desiglo, se refería a un síndrome más amplio (pero incluyendo) o delirium. Enfatizaba elpensamiento caótico y las fallas cognitivas. La noción de turbación de la conciencia(y desorientación temporal-espacial) estableció un denominador común para las dosconcepciones, en cuanto Chaslin y Bonhoeffer redefinieron la confusión y el deliriumcomo as manifestaciones estereotipadas de la insuficiencia cerebral aguda.

Le délire était une catégorie psychiatrique stable jusqu’au début du XIXe siècle.Elle subi alors une redéfinition étiologique et phénoménologique précipitant latransformation des insanités fonctionnels dans les psychoses. La confusion, introduitepar les français au cours de la seconde moitié du siècle, renvoie à un syndrome plusample que le délire (et l’inclut). Elle met en relief la pensée chaotique et les échecscognitifs. La notion de trouble de la conscience (et de la désorientation temporospatiale)a établi un dénominateur commun pour les deux concepts, tandis que Chaslinet Bonhoeffer ont redéfini la confusion et le délire comme des manifestationsstéréotypées de la défaillance cérébrale aiguë.

[The psychopathology of delirium. Evolution of the research from Jaspers to Kapur]. / Psicopatologia del delirio. Evoluzione storica della ricerca da Jaspers a Kapur.

Delirium represents a symptom of a thought disorder in which a belief is strongly held in spite of invalidating evidence. Many varieties of delirium have been described and this symptom is common in psychotic disorders (schizophrenia, brief psychotic disorder, chronic delusional disorders, etc.), affective disorders (major depressive disorder, psychotic depression, melancholic depression, bipolar disorder, etc.), organic illnesses and psychotropic substance abuse. Delirium has been deeply studied by psychopathology. Our work offers an overview of the most relevant psychopathological descriptions of delirium in the last century, from Jaspers to Kapur.

Hallaran's circulating swing.

William Saunders Hallaran (c.1765-1825) was physician superintendent at the County and City of Cork Lunatic Asylum for 40 years, where he distinguished between mental insanity and organic (systemic) delirium. In treatment he used emetics and purgatives, digitalis and opium, the shower bath and exercise, and argued that patients should be saved from 'unavoidable sloth' by mental as well as manual occupation. However, it is as an exponent of the circulating swing, proposed by Erasmus Darwin and used by Joseph Cox, that he is remembered. His best results were achieved, as he recorded in An Enquiry in 1810, by inducing sleep in mania of recent onset, but perhaps his most enduring observation was that some of his patients enjoyed the rotatory experience, and he had enough sense to allow the use of the swing as a mode of amusement.

The vocabulary of madness from Homer to Hippocrates. Part 1: the verbal group of mualphaiotanuomicronmualphaiota.

In Part 1 of this two-part paper, I examine the evolution of the concept of madness expressed by the various forms--verbal and nominal, simple and compound--of the verbal group of mualphaiotanuomicronmualphaiota in the archaic and classical periods. I point out how the divine madness is contrasted to pathological madness considered as a psychic and mental disease and foreseeable by doctors as well as curable by medications. This new procedure highlights rational knowledge of the Greeks about the cause and the medical care of madness.

Psicosis Delirantes Crónicas / Chronic Delirious Psychosis

Los delirios crónicos constituyen una de las unidades de organización de la clínica psiquiátrica moderna tal cual ésta se conformó desde mediados del siglo XIX. En el presente artículo se expone el proceso de surgimiento y diferenciación de estos cuadros clínicos en relación a los diferentes marcos teóricos que permiten su justificación desde el siglo XIX hasta el surgimiento de las clasificaciones globalizantes (DSM y CJE) observando su inclusión o desaparición en las mismas. Posteriormente se presentan las características clínicas de presentación y evolución de sus cuadros más destacados.

Chronic delusions are one of the organization units of modern psychiatry since it took shape around the middle of the 19th century. This paper states the emergence and differentiation process of these clinical manifestations in relation to the different theoretical frameworks that explain them, from the 19th century to the rise of encompassing classifications (DSM and CIE) while pointing out their inclusion or disappearance. Then it exposes the clinical characteristics of the appearance and evolution of its main clinical manifestations.

Delirium agitado fatal, una consecuencia diferente de la adicción a la cacaína / Cocaine-induced agitated delirium, a different consequence of cocaine addiction

Los problemas sanitarios por el consumo crónico de sustancias de abuso, se han transformado en problemas médico-legales en los últimos 10 años. Entre estos se destaca el Delirium Agitado Fatal por Cocaína, cuadro idiosincrático que deviene luego de 1 a 2 horas de una ingesta habitual y que puede causar la muerte sin que se detecte sobredosis en la autopsia. Esta revisión tiene como objetivo estudiar los cambios moleculares que provoca el consumo crónico de cocaína vinculados con el Delirium Agitado Fatal por Cocaína. La correlación molecular-clínica permite vincular los fenómenos inducidos por el consumo abusivo que se expresan en los distintos niveles de complejidad, desde lo bioquímico a lo social. De esta forma se pretende inducir un mayor conocimiento de este cuadro a fin mejorar su prevención, su diagnóstico temprano y su abordaje terapéutico-legal. En suma, el Delirium Agitado Fatal por Cocaína debe ser considerado como la consecuencia de varias modificaciones inadvertidas que, alcanzado un umbral crítico desencadena el cuadro fatal. Esto hace al consumo abusivo de cocaína y a la predisposición individual los únicos responsables de su aparición.

In the past 10 years, chronic drug abuse health problems have become complex medical-legal problems. These include Cocaine-Induced Agitated Delirium, an idiosyncratic illness appears 1-2 hours after regular drug intake and can cause death without overdose is detected at autopsy. This review studies the molecular changes caused by cocaine abuse that derived into Cocaine-Induced Agitated Delirium. The molecular-clinical correlation links the phenomena induced by the abuse expressed at different levels of complexity, from the biochemical to the social. The purpose here is to induce a greater awareness of this illness to improve its prevention, to obtain its early diagnosis and to achieve its appropriate therapeutic-legal approach. Cocaine-Induced Agitated Delirium should be considered as the result of several unseen changes, that if they reach a critical threshold trigger the fatal outcome. This makes the abuse of cocaine and the individual predisposition solely responsible for its appearance.

La mente delirante: psicopatología del delirio / Delusional mind: psychopathology of delusion

Psychopathology studies mental issues in mental illnesses, being a fundamental tool in Psychiatry With the introduction of neuroimaging, neuropsychology and molecular genetics, a new understanding of mental disorders can be reached, provided we furnish them with precise psychopathological concepts; in turn, psychopathology needs to be renewed and re-calibrated to guide and understand the neurobiological investigation. In psychopathology and in psychiatric clinic, delusion has been considered as the "central subject" (Jaspers¹ 1913, Ey² 1958). In this paper we review: a) the conceptual history of delusion, b) predelusional states and delusion diacronism, c) new conceptions regarding language and delusion, and d) new cognitive models.

La Psicopatología estudia lo mental de las enfermedades mentales, y es una herramienta básica de la Psiquiatría. Con la introducción de avances y técnicas de neuroimagen, neuropsicológicas y de genética molecular podremos llegar a una mayor comprensión de los trastornos mentales, y para ello los resultados que arrojan dichas técnicas deben referirse a conceptos psicopatológicos precisos. A su vez la Psicopatología necesita ser actualizada y "recalibrada" periódicamente para así poder guiar e interpretar los estudios neurobiológicos. Si no es así, corre el peligro de ser simplemente un listado de términos usados para el entendimiento entre profesionales y para los manuales diagnósticos. En psicopatología y clínica psiquiátrica el delirio ha sido reiteradamente percibido como "el tema central" (Jaspers¹, Ey². En este trabajo revisamos: a) la historia conceptual del delirio, b) los estados predelirantes y la diacronía del delirio, c) nuevas concepciones sobre lenguaje y delirio, y d) nuevos modelos cognitivos.