Schizophrenia: A diencephalic syndrome

Summary

The writer defines schizophrenia as a diencephalic syndrome. Its symptoms are attributed to dysfunctions of the ganglion cell in the nuclear masses forming the thalamus, hypothalamus and metathalamus.

Accordingly, he divides schizophrenia into two major, though overlapping, groups: one presenting predominantly vegetative disturbances, the hypothalamic type; the other presenting, prevalently, disturbances of the sensory sphere, the thalamic type.

While localizing schizophrenia in the diencephalon the writer cannot offer an explanation for the primary cause of the disease. However, he believes that the solution of the problem lies in the altered metabolism within the diencephalic neurons.

The writer offers his definition of judgment and his interpretation of (1) schizophrenic delusions, (2) the phenomenon of the dream, and (3) the relationship of the personality to disease-processes.