Neuropsychiatry

Abstract

The relative emphasis on “biological” or “psychological” formulations in our understanding of “mental” disorders has varied at different periods in history. The early traditions of Western medicine, as represented by ancient Greek and Roman physicians, recognised that mental disturbance could be produced by physical disorders. The famous 17th century neurologist Thomas Willis, who coined the term “neurology”, believed in a neurological basis of psychiatric disorder. This opinion was explicitly stated in the mid-19th century text on mental disorders by Griesinger [1]. In fact, in die latter half of the 19th century, neuropsychiatry was synonymous with general psychiatry. A number of developments led to this situation. The study of aphasia had resulted in a burgeoning interest in brain structure-function relationships. The recognition of general paresis as an acquired disease with an identifiable aetiology had resulted in therapeutic optimism. Further, neurologists of this period were interested in retaining the territory of mental disorder as a source of patients.