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The Lombrosian prejudice in medicine. The case of Epilepsy. Epileptic psychosis. Epilepsy and aggressiveness

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Abstract

In the nineteenth century, epilepsy became subject of experimental research. Lombroso established a relationship between epilepsy and criminality believing in the existence of epileptoid traits and atavism. He tried to demonstrate the common origin of epilepsy, criminality, and genius; factors deteriorating the CNS would act upon centers, which control behavior and ethics. This impairment would cause a lack of control on the lower nervous centers, reducing restraints of instincts and criminal behavior. He described developmental frontal cortex lesions in epileptic patients (today Taylor’s dysplasia) and these observations supported the erroneous conviction of a relationship between criminality and epilepsy. Neurological, behavioral, and criminological sciences analyzed Lombroso’s doctrine, whereas it was controversial that epileptic patients should be prone to violent actions and aggressive behavior. Today, there is an international panel of experts on epilepsy, which suggests five relevant criteria to determine if a crime committed with aggressiveness could result from epileptic seizures.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thanks Dr. Eva Sjolin for her help in revising the translation of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences of Communication and Behavior, Section of Neurology, University of Ferrara, Italy, Corso della Giovecca 203, 44100, Ferrara, Italy

    Enrico Granieri & Patrik Fazio

  2. Department of Neurophysiology and Epilepsy, Italian Neurological Institute “C. Besta”, Milan, Italy

    Patrik Fazio

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  1. Enrico Granieri
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  2. Patrik Fazio
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Correspondence to Enrico Granieri.

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Convention on the occasion of the centenary of Cesare Lombroso’s death, “GENIUS AND MADNESS”, in the Palace of Science, Ariostea Library, organized by the Dante Alighieri Society, Patron: the University of Ferrara and the Union of Criminal Chambers of Ferrara, 4 March 2010, Ferrara, Italy.

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Granieri, E., Fazio, P. The Lombrosian prejudice in medicine. The case of Epilepsy. Epileptic psychosis. Epilepsy and aggressiveness. Neurol Sci 33, 173–192 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10072-011-0568-6

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