Suicide ideation in older people: a qualitative review and Meta-aggregation of Asian studies.

Aims: To appraise and synthesize qualitative studies examining older Asian people's experiences of suicidal ideation. Design: Qualitative review and meta-aggregation. Data sources: Four databases were accessed to retrieve papers published between 1990 and 2022 including the grey literature, hand-searching of reference lists of retrieved papers and key journals. The phenomenon of interest included participants older than 60 years old, must have experienced a form of suicidal ideation and/or an unsuccessful attempt, had actively thought about harming themselves and be of Asian ethnicity. Review methods: This review was conducted according to Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research and the Joanna Briggs Institute's System for the Unified Management of the Assessment and Review of Information. Results: Of the 289 potential studies, seven papers met the inclusion criteria. Two synthesized findings resulted from this review-The Suffering Situation: A Life without Meaning in Older Age and The Healing Situation: A Life Worth Living. The experiences of older Asian people varied from feelings of loneliness, despair and isolation to wanting to live a fruitful life into old age. Conclusion: Suicidal ideation in the older person is a growing concern especially with the rise in suicide in this age group. Rising health care costs and erosion of traditional family values means that the older person views themselves as a burden. However, because of the limited number of qualitative studies from an Asian perspective it is difficult to ascertain the full extent of the issues surrounding suicide in older people.

A mad yearning for solitude: Timon the Misanthrope and his relevance to the study of ancient psychopathology.

Ancient Greek and Latin medical authors considered a flight into solitude a compelling sign of mental disturbance, frequently described as misanthropia, a word fraught with meaning beyond the medical discourse. The fictionalised character Timon of Athens, the quintessential misanthrope, can shed light on ancient cultural concepts of self-imposed isolation from human contact. To cope with the sense of unease this deviant behaviour induced, misanthropia was explained as 'madness', ridiculed in various genres of humour, morally condemned in philosophy, and ultimately demonized in Christian cosmology. These various attempts at containment echo in the medical works of the age, making it impossible to comprehend the concept of misanthropia in ancient medicine without taking full account of the cultural context.

O tédio / Boredom / El aburrimiento

Este artigo busca fazer uma abordagem histórica do tédio a partir de suas raízes arquetípicas, enfatizando a importância que esse estado da alma ganha no contexto da modernidade. Procura também referências que tentam explicá-lo na perspectiva da obra de Freud, Jung e nas categorias psiquiátricas descritas no DSM-V (AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION, 2014), mapeando suas possíveis interseções com o consumo em massa. Finalmente, o autor faz algumas amplificações que aludem ao sentido do tédio e do consumo para o processo de individuação.

This paper is an attempt to approach boredom in a historical focus, emphasizing its archetypal roots and its prevalence in Modern Age. Furthermore, the author makes an attempt to describe how boredom is approached in Freud's and Jung's works, and also in DSM-V. Finally, the article makes amplifications on the possible meanings of boredom and mass consumption in the individuation process.

Este artículo busca hacer una aproximación histórica al aburrimiento desde sus raíces arquetípicas, enfatizando la importancia que este estado del alma gana en el contexto de la modernidad. También busca referencias que intenten explicarlo desde la perspectiva de la obra de Freud, Jung y las categorías psiquiátricas descritas en el DSM-V, maapeando sus posibles intersecciones con el consumo de masas. Finalmente, el autor hace algunas ampliaciones que aluden al significado del aburrimiento y del consumo para el proceso de individuación.

L'inconscient est politique / O inconsciente é a política: sobre as distopias na sociedade brasileira contemporânea / The unconscious is politics: about dystopias in contemporary brazilian society

RESUMO. A intenção deste ensaio é circunscrever na tradição social brasileira recente a problemática do populismo de extrema direita, em uma retomada e repetição do que se passou nos tempos nefastos da ditadura militar. Para isso, vamos destacar a dívida estabelecida pela sociedade brasileira para com os mortos, na medida em que os crimes realizados pela ditadura não foram julgados. Além disso, tal dívida remete a outras dívidas existentes na sociedade brasileira, referentes à tradição escravocrata, assim como as relações patriarcais no registro do gênero.

RESUME: L'intention de cet essai est de circonscrire dans la récente tradition sociale brésilienne la problématique du populisme d'extrême droite, dans une reprise et une répétition de ce qui s'est passé dans les temps néfastes de la dictature militaire. Pour cela, nous soulignerons la dette établie par la société brésilienne envers les morts, dans la mesure où les crimes perpétrés par la dictature n'ont pas été jugés. En outre, cette dette fait référence à d'autres dettes existant dans la société brésilienne, se référant à la tradition esclavagiste, ainsi qu'aux relations patriarcales dans le registre des sexes.

ABSTRACT. This essay intends to circumscribe in the recent Brazilian social tradition the problem of far right-wing populism, in a resumption and repetition of what happened in the nefarious times of the military dictatorship. For this, we analyzed the debt established by Brazilian society towards the dead, insofar as the crimes committed by the dictatorship were not judged. In addition, this debt refers to other existing debts in Brazilian society, referring to the slavery tradition, as well as gender related patriarchal relations.

The (un)veiling of the object a and the Superego in Melancholia / O (des)velamento do objeto a e o supereu na melancolia

RESUMO: Partindo do pressuposto freudiano no qual a melancolia se enquadra entre as neuroses narcísicas em oposição às neuroses de transferência, pretende-se apresentá-la no ensino de Lacan, entendendo-a como uma estrutura clínica psicótica. A melancolia é abordada como sendo um efeito de estrutura em função da não separação do objeto a, que fica (des)velado, a partir da foraclusão do Nome-do-Pai. Destaca-se o papel do supereu através do objeto voz.

ABSTRACT: Based on the Freudian assumption in which melancholy is included among the narcissistic neuroses in opposition to the transference neuroses, it is intended to present it in Lacan's teaching, understanding it as a psychotic clinical structure. Melancholy is approached as a structure effect due to the non-separation of the object a, which is (un)veiled from the foreclosure of the Name-of-the-Father. The role of the superego through the voice object is highlighted.

Professional dynamics of the forensic evaluation of mental states in eighteenth-century Denmark-Norway.

This study examines criminal cases related to blasphemy under the absolute monarchy of Denmark-Norway, and presents the evaluation of mental states within a forensic context between 1713 and 1733. First, the article explains how the legal framework and normative guidelines for pastoral care envisaged the interplay between judges, priests and doctors in evaluating mental states. Then, an examination of selected cases is provided, showing the dynamics and the role assignment in the evaluation of mental states in practice. Covering a period characterized by a gradual differentiation of theology, law and medicine, this case study enhances understanding of what preceded the development of psychiatry as a medical speciality during the nineteenth century.

A vida dos fantasmas: melancolia e memória / The life of ghosts: melancholy and memory / La vida de los fantasmas: melancolía y memoria

Este ensaio visa amplificar as concepções de fantasma, seja como figuração político-narrativa, seja como dinamismo, de forma experimental e intuitiva. Para tanto, cumpre alguns itinerários: primeiramente, discorre a respeito de uma lógica fantasmal oriunda dos campos da filosofia, das ciências sociais, da literatura e da psicologia analítica; a seguir, investiga brevemente ressonâncias dessa lógica a partir de conceitos de Fisher sobre reverter a melancolia dos futuros perdidos pelo trabalho de abertura aos fantasmas; e finda com uma reflexão sobre os usos da memória enquanto resistência a partir das figuras mitológicas de Saturno, Mnemosyne e das metáforas da obra A Polícia da Memória, de Ogawa.

This essay aims to amplify the conceptions of the ghost, either as a political-narrative figuration, or as a dynamism, in an experimental and intuitive way. In order to do so, it travels through some itineraries: first, it discusses a ghostly logic originating from the fields of philosophy, social sciences, literature and analytical psychology; then, it briefly investigates resonances of this logic based on Fisher's concepts on reversing the melancholy of lost futures through the work of opening to ghosts; and ends with a reflection on the uses of memory as resistance from the mythological figures of Saturn, Mnemosyne and the metaphors of Ogawa's The Memory Police.

Este ensayo pretende ampliar las concepciones del fantasma, sea como figuración político narrativa o como dinamismo, de manera experimental e intuitiva. Para ello, cumple algunos itinerarios: en primer lugar, discute una lógica fantasmal proveniente de los campos de la filosofía, las ciencias sociales, la literatura y la psicología analítica; luego, indaga brevemente resonancias de esta lógica a partir de los conceptos de Fisher sobre revertir la melancolía de los futuros perdidos a través del trabajo de apertura a los fantasmas; y finaliza con una reflexión sobre los usos de la memoria como resistencia a partir de las figuras mitológicas de Saturno, Mnemosyne y las metáforas de La policía de la memoria de Ogawa.

As patologias narcísicas e os estados depressivos na pós-modernidade / Narcissistic pathologies and depressive states in post-modernity / Les pathologies narcissiques et les états dépressifs dans la postmodernité

Os estados melancoliformes nas diferentes configurações clínicas desafiam-nos a investigar suas relações com as patologias narcísicas na pós-modernidade. Apresentamos um estudo baseado em proposições freudianas em uma tentativa de atualizá-las no contexto da clínica da civilização atual. Sem a crença em um Outro apto a transmitir a operação da castração para negativizar o regime da oralidade pulsional e metaforizá-lo pelo sentido sexual, surge uma posição maciçamente masoquista que goza com a experiência de se sentir excluído e desabonado. Considerando as práticas consumistas que se alastram nas democracias contemporâneas, neste artigo, circunscrevemos que a decepção com o Outro universal que não existe pode deflagrar fenômenos imaginários em sujeitos que rompem com a ordem simbólica ao custo de um autodestruição.

Melancholiform states in different clinical configurations challenge us to investigate their relationship with narcissistic pathologies in postmodernity. We present a study based on freudian propositions in an attempt to update them in the clinical context of current civilization. Without the belief in an Other capable of transmitting the operation of castration to negate the instinctual orality regime and metaphorize it through the sexual sense, a massively masochistic position emerges that enjoys with the experience of feeling excluded and discredited. Considering the consumer practices that are widespread in contemporary democracies, the article circumscribes that the disappointment with the universal Other that does not exist can trigger imaginary phenomena in subjects who break with the symbolic order at the cost of self-destruction.

Les états mélancoliformes dans différents configurations cliniques nous mettent au défi d'étudier leur relation avec les pathologies narcissiques dans la post-modernité. Nous présentons une étude basée sur des propositions freudiennes dans une tentative de les mettre à jour dans le contexte clinique de la civilisation actuelle. Sans la croyance en un Autre capable de transmettre l'opération de castration pour nier le régime d'oralité pulsionnel et le métaphoriser à travers le sens sexuel, émerge une position massivement masochiste qui peut jouir de l'expérience de se sentir exclu et discrédité. Considérant les pratiques consuméristes répandues dans les démocraties contemporaines, l'article circonscrit que la déception face à l'Autre universel inexistant peut déclencher des phénomènes imaginaires chez des sujets qui rompent avec l'ordre symbolique au prix de leur autodestruction.

Application of Stem Cell Therapy During the Treatment of HIV/AIDS and Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Treating diseases such as Muscular Dystrophy (MD) and HIV/AIDS pose several challenges to the rapidly evolving field of regenerative medicine. Previously, stem cell therapy has been said to affect the clinical courses of HIV/AIDS and MD, but, in practice, eradication or control of these diseases was not achievable. The introduction of gene editing into stem cell therapy has stimulated HIV/AIDS and MD cell therapy research studies substantially. Here, we review current methods of treating HIV/AIDS and MD using stem cell therapy. This review also details the use of different types of cells and methods in cell therapy and the modeling of new cell-based therapies to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We speculate that the effective use of stem cell therapy in conjunction with other treatment therapies , such as steroids and rehabilitation , could improve livelihood.

[Complementarity of body/psyche care in case of postpartum depression]. / Complémentarité des soins corps/psyché en cas de dépression du post-partum.

The perinatal period is suffused with profound upheaval and physical and psychological changes, and is accompanied by frequent psychopathological and psychiatric disorders. The early management of mother-child relationships during this period is therefore a major and complex issue, both for professionals and for patients. Two main pitfalls would be to distinguish the taking into account of the subject's suffering from the risk of early alteration of the parent-baby relationship, and to separate the psychological and physical dimensions at stake. A clinical situation illustrates the way in which the body and the psyche can be engaged and envisaged in a joint care.

Melancolia e juventude num mundo sem perspectivas no ambiente onírico do filme "O professor substituto" / Melancolía y juventud en un mundo sin perspectivas en la atmósfera onírica de la película La última lección / Melancholy and youth in a world without prospects in the dreamlike environmentof the movie School's Out / Mélancolie et jeunesse dans un monde sans perspectives dans l'environnement onirique du film L'heure de la sortie

Dada a sobreposição de acontecimentos traumáticos a catástrofes anunciadas ­ tais como o colapso climático vindouro e os desmandos das autoridades que compõem a política e economia neoliberais ­ e a forma como esses acontecimentos reverberam no psiquismo dos jovens, o objetivo deste artigo é apresentar o filme O professor substituto de modo a tomá-lo como alegoria para a função traumatolítica dos sonhos e do cinema. Foi possível discutir uma das características da contemporaneidade, que favorece certa melancolização do laço social entre os jovens inseridos em uma sociedade distópica. Diante de tais acontecimentos, uma das evidências encontradas foi que a confiança dos sujeitos foi a mais penalizada, e por conta disso coube alargar a noção de esperança

Dadas la superposición de eventos traumáticos a catástrofes anunciadas (como el colapso climático que se avecina y los abusos de las autoridades que componen la política y la economía neoliberales) y la forma en que esos eventos repercuten en el psiquismo de los jóvenes, el objeto de este artículo es presentar la película La última lección para tomarla como alegoría de la función traumatolítica de los sueños y del cine. Se pudo discutir una de las características de la contemporaneidad, que favorece cierta melancolización del vínculo social entre los jóvenes insertados en una sociedad distópica. Ante tales hechos, una de las evidencias que vimos fue que la confianza de los sujetos fue la más penalizada, y por eso hubo que ensanchar el concepto de esperanza

There is an overlap of traumatic events and announced catastrophes (such as the coming climate collapse and the abuses of the authorities that make up neoliberal politics and economics) and a way those events reverberate in the psyche of young people. In that context, the purpose of this article is to present the movie School's Outin order to take it as an allegory for the traumatolytic function of dreams and cinema. We discussed one of the characteristics of contemporaneity that favors a certain melancholyzation of the social bond among young people inserted in a dystopian society. Considering such events, one of the evidences found was that the subjects'trust was the most penalized, and because of that, it was necessary to broaden the notion of hope

Compte tenu de la superposition d'événements traumatiques aux catastrophes annoncées ­ tels que le collapse climatique à venir et les dérives des autorités qui composent la politique et l'économie néolibérale ­ et la façon dont ces événements se répercutent dans le psychisme des jeunes, le but de cet article est de présenter le film L'heure de la sortie afin de le prendre comme une allégorie de la fonction traumatolytique des rêves et du cinéma. Il a été possible de discuter d'une des caractéristiques de la contemporanéité, qui favorise une certaine mélancolisation du lien social chez les jeunes insérés dans une société dystopique. Face à de tels événements, une des preuves trouvées était que la confiance des sujets était la plus pénalisée et, pour cette raison, il était nécessaire d'élargir la notion d'espoir

On the threshold of loss and its representations: masochism as a safeguard against depressive disorder.

This article explores defensive modes of masochism based through the case study of Sarah, a 25-year-old patient who is regularly followed in psychoanalytical therapy. I will postulate the idea that fetishization of moral masochism should be seen from the perspective of melancholic processes. Drawing on several moments of her therapy, I will illustrate how the primitive idealization of the introjected and denigrated object in the melancholic process lays the conditions for a decisive moral masochism, and whose unconscious idealization defends against depressive breakdown.

Narcisismo e Melancolia em Psicologia das Massas e Análise do Eu: aproximações / Narcissism and Melancholy in Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego: approximations / Narcisismo y Melancolía en Psicología de las Masas y Análisis del Yo: aproximaciones

Ao levar em conta a sua importância tanto metapsicológica quanto social, este artigo traça um itinerário das noções de narcisismo e melancolia no escopo de "Psicologia das Massas e Análise do Eu". Neste sentido, ao promover uma reconstituição do caminho que se inicia em "Introdução ao Narcisismo" e "Luto e Melancolia" até a reaparição desses conceitos no texto sobre a psicologia das massas, pretende lançar luz sobre os processos de idealização, identificação e introjeção que, de acordo com Freud, ladrilham uma continuidade entre sujeito e sociedade. Conclusivamente, aponta possíveis conexões entre a cisão do Eu, a servidão melancólica e as tentativas de reaver um narcisismo mediante a imersão nas massas hodiernas.

Taking into account both its metapsychological and social importance, this article traces an itinerary of the notions of narcissism and melancholy within the scope of Freud's "Group Psychology and the Analysis of the Ego". Therefore, through a reconstitution of the path that begins in "On Narcissism: an introduction" and "Mourning and Melancholia" until the reappearance of these concepts in the text about the psychology of the masses, it intends to shed some light on the processes of idealization, identification and introjection that, according to Freud, tile a continuous line between subject and society. In conclusive terms, the present work points out some possible connections between the splitting of the Ego, the melancholic servitude and the attempts to recover a narcissism upon the immersion in the contemporary masses.

Al tener en cuenta su importancia metapsicológica como social, este artículo traza un itinerario de las nociones de narcisismo y melancolía en "Psicología de las Masas y el Análisis del Yo". En este sentido, a través de una reconstitución del camino que comienza en "Introducción al Narcisismo" y "Luto y Melancolía" hasta la reaparición de estos conceptos en el texto sobre Psicología de las masas, se pretende discutir los procesos de idealización, identificación e introyección que, según Freud, enmarca una continuidad entre el sujeto y la sociedad. En conclusión, el presente trabajo señala algunas posibles conexiones entre la división del Yo, la servidumbre melancólica y los intentos de recuperar un narcisismo que se expande por la inmersión en las masas contemporáneas.

Quando olhaste bem nos olhos meus, e o teu olhar era de adeus / When you looked right into my eyes, with a farewell gaze / Cuando me miraste directamente a los ojos, y tu mirada fue de adiós / Quand tu m'as bien regardé dans les yeux, et tu avais un regard d'adieu

A experiência coletiva diante do horror da finitude, reapresentada na pandemia atual, impôs o isolamento social e a mudança nas práticas clínicas. Com isso, a clínica psicanalítica enfrenta o desafio da reinstalação dos canais de comunicação psíquica dentro de um novo setting, virtual. Este artigo descreve as particularidades do atendimento online de um paciente melancólico em risco de suicídio, caso ficcionalizado para fins de discrição. O objetivo é mostrar, sob a luz das ideias de Freud em "Luto e melancolia" e de Sándor Ferenczi sobre o manejo da transferência, a possibilidade de transformação da dor psíquica em uma experiência estruturante a partir da migração das imagens para o campo da palavra.

The current pandemic has forced people to face the horror of finitude, imposed social isolation, and required a change in psychotherapy practices. Psychoanalytic treatment faces the challenge of reinstalling the channels of psychic communication within a new, virtual setting. This article describes particular aspects of the online care of a melancholic patient at risk of suicide and has been fictionalized for the sake of discretion. It reflects Freud's ideas in "Mourning and melancholy" and Sandor Ferenczi's approach to the management of transference in order to show the possibility of transforming psychic pain into a structuring experience through the migration of images into the world of language.

La pandemia actual ha obligado a las personas a enfrentar el horror de la finitud, ha impuesto el aislamiento social y ha requerido un cambio en las prácticas de psicoterapia. El tratamiento psicoanalítico se enfrenta al desafío de reinstalar los canales de comunicación psíquica en un nuevo escenario virtual. Este artículo describe aspectos particulares de la atención online de un paciente melancólico en riesgo de suicidio y se ha convertido en ficción por motivos de discreción. Refleja las ideas de Freud en "Duelo y melancolía" y el enfoque de Sandor Ferenczi sobre la gestión de la transferencia para mostrar la posibilidad de transformar el dolor psíquico en una experiencia estructurante a través de la migración de imágenes al mundo del lenguaje.

La pandémie actuelle a contraint les gens à affronter l'horreur de la finitude, imposé l'isolement social et le changement des pratiques de psychothérapie. C'est pourquoi la clinique psychanalytique est confrontée au défi de réinstaller les canaux de communication psychique dans un nouveau cadre virtuel. Cet article décrit des aspects particuliers des soins en ligne d'un patient mélancolique à risque de suicide et a été romancé par souci de discrétion. Son objectif est de montrer, à la lumière des idées de Freud dans « Deuil et mélancolie ¼ et celles de Sandor Ferenczi concernant la gestion du transfert, la possibilité de transformer la douleur psychique en une expérience structurante vers le monde du langage, au moyen de la migration des images.

"Operational" concepts in the phenomenon of Islamist radicalization: From the subject to the apocalypse.

Taken from interviews with men having been incarcerated on the charge of criminal association with the intent of committing or aiding and abetting to terrorist acts, the central question of this article has thus emerged: which part does Islamist radicalization play on the psychic level of the self? Therefore, we have selected several theorical concepts, to guide us in this research, that became operative concepts, such as hatred, drive, melancholy and symptom. These have a converging point that is linked with the clinic of boredom and emptiness, or named otherwise, "off language". The radicalization process seems to come as a way to fill this emptiness, and hence to avoid the risk of the collapsing of the self. However, this "solution" is only a lure, leading to destruction, while at the same time, the person is aiming to restore its identity.

Graciliano ramos and paulo honório: biography, melancholic autobiography and technique in literary creation / Graciliano ramos e paulo honório: biografia, autobiografia melancólica e técnica na criação literária

RESUMO: A partir de textos de Freud, Ogden, Leader, Ricœur e da análise de S. Bernardo, propomos três características de uma autobiografia melancólica: é uma forma literária da autorrecriminação; do espaço privado; e que não é produto de um trabalho de rememoração, mas de uma compulsão de repetição. Em seguida, comparamos a escrita de Infância e S. Bernardo, particularmente em relação às imagens sonoras, às ideias e atitudes e à relação entre pais e filhos. Por último, defendemos que a estrutura melancólica é uma potência, e não um limite criativo.

Abstract: From the writings of Freud, Ogden, Leader, Ricœur, and a Sao Bernardo's analysis, we propound some characteristics of a melancholic autobiography: it is a literary form of self-loathing; of privacy; and that is not the outcome of a remembrance work, but of a compulsion to repetition. We then compare the writing of Infancia and Sao Bernardo, particularly concerning sonant images, ideas and attitudes, and a relationship between parents and children. Finally, we argue that the melancholy structure is a power and not a creative limit.

Manía de automartirio y holofrase en la melancolía / Self-torture mania and holophrase in melancholy

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo precisar el diagnóstico y el análisis del síntoma en la melancolía. En primer lugar, se revisa la evolución del concepto freudiano de la melancolía, a partir de las elaboraciones psicoanalíticas del superyó, junto con algunas consideraciones epistémicas que lo hicieron posible. Con el objetivo de elaborar algunas coordenadas para el análisis del síntoma, se diferencian la introyección y la identificación del objeto. En un contrapunto con algunas definiciones del DSM5®, se demarcan criterios psicoanalíticos para su diagnóstico diferencial, a partir de la relación a la palabra, al cuerpo y al Otro, tomando como eje la noción lacaniana de holofrase. Con la noción de "manía de automartirio" se busca diferenciar la melancolía del estupor esquizofrénico y, también, del masoquismo neurótico. Además, se propone una relación entre la melancolía y la manía que no es la de una mera alternancia. Con una chicana de Goethe, se amplían recorridos anteriores sobre el uso del humor en el análisis de la melancolía y la posición del analista en la cura

This work aims at specifing the diagnosis and analysis of the symptom in melancholy. In the first place, the evolution of the Freudian concept of melancholy is reviewed, starting from the psychoanalytic elaborations on the superego, together with some epistemic considerations that made it possible. In order to elaborate some coordinates for the analysis of the symptom, introjection and identification of the object are differentiated. In a counterpoint to some definitions of the DSM5®, psychoanalytic criteria for differential diagnosis is based on the relation to the word, the body and the Other, taking as an axis the Lacanian notion of holophrase. The notion of "selftorture mania" seeks to differentiate melancholy from schizophrenic stupor and also from neurotic masochism. In addition, melancholy and mania are proposed not as a mere alternation. With a joke by Goethe, previous notes are expanded regarding the use of humor in the analysis of melancholy and the position of the analyst in the cure

Epilepsy in the Hippocratic collection: Seizures and syndromes.

Despite extensive scholarship, several questions on the view of seizures and epilepsy in the Hippocratic collection have not been answered. The book 'On the Sacred Disease' contains descriptions of focal and generalized tonic-clonic seizures, understands the stigma attached to epilepsy, its association with depression, and probably describes auras. Remarkably, the collection presents a physiologic theory of 'mental' disease. Other parts of the collection suggest recognition of syndromes such as childhood febrile seizures. Non-motor seizures are not clearly described. There may be a distinction between 'acute symptomatic' and recurrent seizures or 'epilepsy.' Analysis of the relative occurrence of terms related to 'epilepsy' or 'spasms' in an online text collection shows a significant difference: 'epilepsy' terms are more frequent when seizures are described alone, while 'spasm' terms are more frequent in the context of systemic diseases or injuries. This dichotomy suggests, in contrast to previous accounts, possible understanding of the distinction between 'idiopathic' and 'symptomatic' seizure disorders.

Stephanus Bisius (1724-1790) on mania and melancholy, and the disorder called plica polonica.

Stephanus Bisius (1724-1790) was a physician of Italian descent and a graduate of the University of Pavia. He was invited to the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the early 1760s and became head of the Faculty of Medicine at Vilnius University in 1781. In 1772, Bisius had authored the first original study on nervous and mental diseases in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. In his 35-page booklet, written in Latin and Polish, Bisius characterized mania and melancholy as diseases of the brain, explaining that the organs that feed the human soul are affected, not the soul itself. He introduced the principles of humoralism and solidism to readers, and recognized that autopsies had failed to reveal reliable findings concerning mania or melancholy. Bisius also described the origins of the challenging disorder called plica polonica, a strange condition associated with tufts of matted hair. As a physician during the medical Enlightenment, Bisius criticized metaphysical speculations in medicine and stated that plica was only a result of superstitions. Even though he proposed antiphlogistic treatments for patients with mania and melancholy, he maintained that time and faith in God might help some patients overcome their infirmities.

Melancholic features (DSM-IV) predict but do not moderate response to antidepressants in major depression: an individual participant data meta-analysis of 1219 patients.

It is sometimes clinically believed that major depression with melancholic features is more responsive to antidepressants than non-melancholic depression. Proper analysis and, therefore, valid evidence to support or refute this common clinical lore is lacking. The sample was taken from three placebo-controlled randomized trials of duloxetine, escitalopram and paroxetine (n = 1219). We conducted a two-step individual participant data meta-analysis to combine linear mixed-effects regressions modeling melancholic features as prognostic factor (variable that predicts overall response regardless of the treatments) and as effect modifier (variable that predict differential response to drug over placebo). Melancholic features represented a statistically significant prognostic factor for greater reduction in depression severity both on antidepressants and on placebo, especially after 4 weeks of treatment. However, they were not an effect modifier of the antidepressant treatment through the acute phase treatment: in other words. The superiority of antidepressants over placebo was not influenced by the melancholic features. The treatment decision-making as to the benefits of antidepressant treatment for patients with major depression should not be influenced by the presence or absence of melancholic features.