[Edema related to treatment with olanzapine]. / Odeme durch Olanzapin.

OBJECTIVE: In comparison to metabolic syndrome, edema seems to be a rare occurrence in antipsychotic treatment. METHOD: In this paper, we report on two subjects with psychotic disorders who were found to have peripheral edema during olanzapine therapy. DISCUSSION: The theoretical background and the relevance of this observation are examined. Furthermore, edema as a side effect of antipsychotic treatment is reviewed. In particular, the importance of olanzapine, a commonly used neuroleptic drug, as a possible causative substance is evaluated.

Julius Ludwig August Koch (1841-1908): Christian, philosopher and psychiatrist.

Being deeply rooted in a Christian faith and having much interest in moral and ethical issues, Koch published some philosophical works Die Wirklichkeit und ihre Erkenntnis (Reality and its knowledge; Koch, 1886), in which he tried to bring together critical Kantian philosophy and Christian conviction. In 1888 he published Kurzgefasster Leitfaden der Psychiatrie (Short Textbook of Psychiatry). The next work, entitled Die psychopathischen Minderwertigkeiten (Psychopathic Inferiority; Koch, 1891-93) became one of his fundamental texts on the concept of personality disorders, a concept still used today. Although psychiatric disorders are nowadays classified differently, Koch's work still has great importance for the concept of personality disorders; furthermore, he provides very exact and detailed descriptions of a multitude of psychopathological symptoms.

[Palinacousis in alcohol hallucinosis]. / Palinakusis bei Alkoholhalluzinose.

OBJECTIVE: Palinacousis seems to be a rare phenomenon in mental disorders. METHODS: In this paper, we report on a subject with alcohol hallucinosis who displayed one episode with palinacousis after remission from the typical acoustic hallucinations according to the disorder. DISCUSSION: The theoretical background and the relevance of this observation are discussed.

On the way to a scientia sexualis: 'On the relation of the sexual system to the psyche in general and to cretinism in particular' (1826) by Joseph Häussler.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, several works were published by physicians trying to explain, in an increasingly systematic manner, the emergence of psychic derangements with sexual disorders. A contribution to this development was provided by Joseph Häussler with his monograph 'On the relation of the sexual system to the psyche in general and to cretinism in particular' (1826). Häussler was interested in whether the sexual system was the cause of psychic disturbance. He accused some sexual behaviours and exercises (e.g., onanism and unsatisfied sexual instinct) of being causes, but, nonetheless, accepted that morphological deviations of the sexual organs could also evoke mental diseases. Furthermore Häussler attempted to determine if stimulation of the sexual system could cure psychic illnesses. Finally, he dealt with sexual conditions in the mentally ill. A complete chapter was devoted to cretins and their sexuality.

Self-amputation of penis and tongue after use of Angel's Trumpet.

This case report draws attention to the dramatic consequences of the consumption of Angel's Trumpet. Angel's Trumpet contains alkaloids (especially scopolamine, as well as hyoscyamine, atropine and other alkaloids) in a relatively high concentration. When intoxicated with Angel's Trumpet, patients can suffer hallucinations, motoric restlessness, overtalkativeness, convulsive sobbing and sexual excitement, as well as aggressive and autoaggressive behaviour. Somatic symptoms are tachycardia, mydriasis, hypertonia, respiratory disturbances and vomiting, as well as a potentially life-threatening anticholinerg syndrome. In this paper, we report on a young man who amputated his penis and his tongue after having consumed Angel's Trumpet tea, illustrating that consuming this beautiful flower with the name of an angel and the poison of the devil can be very dangerous.

[Julius Ludwig August Koch (1841-1908). Psychiatrist, philosopher, and Christian]. / Julius Ludwig August Koch (1841-1908): Psychiater, Philosoph und Christ.

Julius Ludwig August Koch was born 1841 in the small town of Laichingen (Württemberg) in the Southwest of Germany. After working as a chemist for about seven years, he studied medicine in Tübingen from 1863 to 1867. First he worked as a physican and later in a private mental hospital in Göppingen. From 1874 to 1898, he was director of a state mental hospital in Zwiefalten (Württemberg). Koch died in 1908 after a long period of suffering in Zwiefalten. Being deeply routed in a Christian faith and having much interest in moral and ethical issues, Koch published some philosophical works 'Epistomological investigations' (Erkenntnistheoretische Untersuchungen, 1882), 'Outline of philosophy' (Grundriss der Philosophie, 1885) and 'Reality and its knowledge' (Die Wirklichkeit und ihre Erkenntnis, 1886). In this papers he tried to bring together critical Kantian philosophy and Christian conviction. In 1888 he published a 'Short Textbook of Psychiatry' (Kurzgefasster Leitfaden der Psychiatrie), where he mentioned the term "psychopathic inferiority" for the first time (Psychopathische Minderwertigkeiten). The following work, focussing on this issue with the title 'Psychopathic Inferiority' (Die psychopathischen Minderwertigkeiten, 1891-1893), became one of the fundamental texts concerning the concept of disorders of personality, which are in use today. In this book, published in three parts, he tried to describe the hole field between psychic normality and psychoses. Only the first and biggest part deals with psychopathological symptoms which we now think to be essential for personality disorders. Koch differentiates between "disposition" (Disposition), "burden" (Belastung) and "degeneration" (Degeneration), assuming a graduation. "Disposition" should be the mildest disorder, turning into normality, whereas "degeneration" turns to psychosis. Koch believed, that on the basis of all degrees of "psychpathic inferiority" there was a congenital defect of the constitution of the brain. To be consistent, he demanded that the individuals in question should not be punished as hard as people without this disorder by the courts, and proposed to open up special institutions beside the usual prisons. Beside this, Koch describes in the other parts of his book vividly for example acute and chronical organic psychoses and obsessions. Although psychiatric disorders are classified different today, Kochs work keeps its great importance for the concept of personality disorders, further more one can find very exact and detailed descriptions of a multitude of psychpathological symptoms, which are worth reading them today.

[Origin of psychiatric disorders ex sexualibus: explanatory approaches at the beginning of the 19th century]. / Die Entstehung psychischer Stöungen ex sexualibus: Erklärungsansätze zu Beginn des 19. Jahrhunderts.

In the first half of the 19th century there were the first publications, which dealt systematically with the relation between deviations of the sexual system or behaviour and mental disturbances. The knowledge and the theoretical ideas of medicine and of psychiatric diseases at that time and a discussion concerning the consequences of masturbation can be demonstrated in works like "De mentis aberrationibus ex partium sexualium conditione abnormi oriundis" by Hermann Joseph Löwenstein (1823) and "Ueber die Beziehungen des Sexualsystemes zur Psyche überhaupt und zum Cretinismus ins Besondere" by Joseph Häussler (1826). Both publications try to sytemize the issue and prove their hypotheses by numerous casuistics. The autors belong to the so called "Somatis School" in psychiatry at that time.

[Hans Kurella's 'Naturgeschichte des Verbrechers' [Natural history of the criminal], 1893, as an apology of Cesare Lombroso's doctrine of 'Uomo delinquente']. / Hans Kurellas 'Naturgeschichte des Verbrechers' (1893) als Apologie der Lehre Cesare Lombrosos vom 'Uomo delinquente'.

At the end of the 19th century Cesare Lombroso and his theory of the 'delinquente nato' had great influence on a lot of scientists in the German speaking world. One of the psychiatrists who published several books and articles about Lombroso's theory was Hans Kurella. In his 'Naturgeschichte des Verbrechers' (1893) he elaborates the thesis of the 'delinquente nato' agreeing with its central point that the criminal.

Hermann Joseph Löwenstein's dissertation: De mentis aberrationibus ex partium sexualium conditione abnormi oriundis (1823).

In the nineteenth century there was a growing number of publications by physicians who were concerned with the relation between abnormal sexual behaviour or abnormal conditions in the genital sphere and psychiatric disorders. These publications were part of an anti-onanism discourse which had been initiated in the eighteenth century. One of the earliest works in this field was hermann Joseph Löwenstein's dissertation: De mentis aberrationibus ex partium sexualium conditione abnormi oriundis (1823). Löwenstein was influenced by the ideas of authors who saw the only reason for psychiatric disorders in somatic conditions. The chapters deal with the 'male sex', the 'female sex' and the 'hermaphroditismus'. Finally, Löwenstein focuses directly on the mental disorders caused by abnormal sexual disorders, the differences between the sexes and the extent to which one can deduce diseases of the sexual organs from psychic disorders.