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The aim is to show how to distinguish a specific element of hostility among other elements which make up the characteristic body postures of Parkinson's disease. The specific Parkinsonian posture is seen as an involuntary attitude of defence. It is assumed that all biological happenings have relation with the condition of tension. The Parkinsonian patient is menaced by both a real and a neurotic threat to his equilibrium; first, because the motor apparatus is damaged, and, second, because old instinctual conflicts are mobilized. Special attention should be paid to the character development of each patient. Undoubted cases of encephalitis completely recover. These individuals have an ability to overcome difficulties by recognition of reality rather than flight to phantasies, etc. The ego remains in a position where it can manage the damaged apparatus advantageously and restore it to adaptive functioning. Where there is a 'weak super-ego', the fact of the damage is responded to in a neurotic manner. Gutmann emphasized the tendency to paranoid forms of reaction in encephalitics frequently concealed by a mask of affability or euphoria.
A brief description of the analysis of an encephalitic with pronounced respiratory syndromes is given. The patient's condition improved markedly under analysis. Rage, sadism and defensive attitudes were marked. The actual trauma had produced a condition of helplessness which brought regressive alterations in the ego and in the function of the super-ego, and the defence conflicts of the instincts were increased.