Psychosomatic Medicine

Booth, Gotthard. Psychodynamics in Parkinsonism.

Kubie, Lawrence S. Instincts and Homeostasis.

Schiele, Burtrum C., and Brozek, Josef. Experimental Neurosis Resulting from Semistarvation.

Booth, Gotthard. Psychodynamics and Parkinsonism. Parkinsonism, postencephalitic as well as senile, is a syndrome which is characteristic of a specific personality type. The Parkinsonian Personality is characterized by urge toward action, expressed through motor activity and through industriousness; striving for independence, authority, and success within a rigid, usually moralistic, behavior pattern. The following factors appear to be responsible for this personality structure; a—Constitutional, probably hereditary emphasis on aggressiveness, functional prevalence of the locomotor function, tendency toward identification with a dominant parent figure, responsiveness to social values, b—The accident of an inferior position regarding competition in childhood, perhaps also a low general vitality. The disease symptoms appear when the personality attitude cannot be carried on successfully. They satisfy the dominant needs of the Parkinsonian on a symbolic level: compulsive activity of the motor system and rigidity of behavior. Goal directed actions are restricted to emotionally accepted purposes and must appear likely to be successful. Aggression is also expressed through increased salivation. The therapeutic approach to these patients can be made more successful by respect for their typical personality traits: in particular their excessive shame regarding failures and their need for purposeful activity. Sociologic and historical data are in harmony with the result of individual case histories and objective personality tests.

Kubie, Lawrence S. Instincts and Homeostasis. In discussing instincts Freud made two important points which have been largely neglected, partly by himself, and in part by other workers: that a classification of instincts must rest on a physiologic rathe