Dysphrenia
Encyclopedia
The term dysphrenia was coined by the German medical specialist Karl Kahlbaum to designate a clinical picture in 19th century psychiatry
. Today the concept is still used in the western world as a lay generic synonym for mental disorder in adults, and as a term to describe different cognitive/verbal/behavioral deficits in children and adolescents. It is also used in the People's Republic of China
, controversially, to identify a local medical diagnostic category. A number of followers of the Falun Gong
cult and other social movements considered insurrectionary by the regime are said to have been diagnosed with dysphrenia.
The medical expression tardive dysphrenia
was first proposed by the American neurologist Stanley Fahn and collaborators in the 1970s. It was originally linked to a unique and rare non-motor behavioral/mental neuroleptic drug-induced tardive syndrome observed in psychiatric patients—schizophrenia
in particular—and was treated with typical antipsychotic
s or neuroleptics, the only kind of antipsychotic drugs available at the time.
Tardive dysphrenia
was conceived to precede tardive dyskinesia
and the other already-known neuroleptic-induced tardive syndromes (tardive dystonia
, tardive akathisia
). More recently, the Brazilian psychiatrist Leopoldo Hugo Frota extended Fahn's original construct to encompass the independently-described but etiologically-related concepts of rebound psychosis
, supersensitivity psychosis (Guy Chouinard), and schizophrenia pseudo-refractoriness (Heinz Lehmann
& Thomas Ban) or secondary acquired refractoriness.
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
. Today the concept is still used in the western world as a lay generic synonym for mental disorder in adults, and as a term to describe different cognitive/verbal/behavioral deficits in children and adolescents. It is also used in the People's Republic of China
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
, controversially, to identify a local medical diagnostic category. A number of followers of the Falun Gong
Falun Gong
Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline first introduced in China in 1992 by its founder, Li Hongzhi, through public lectures. It combines the practice of meditation and slow-moving qigong exercises with the moral philosophy...
cult and other social movements considered insurrectionary by the regime are said to have been diagnosed with dysphrenia.
The medical expression tardive dysphrenia
Tardive dysphrenia
The medical expression tardive dysphrenia, was proposed by the American neurologist Stanley Fahn, the head of the Division of Movements Disorders of the Neurological Institute of New York, in collaboration with the psychiatrist David V Forrest in the 1970s....
was first proposed by the American neurologist Stanley Fahn and collaborators in the 1970s. It was originally linked to a unique and rare non-motor behavioral/mental neuroleptic drug-induced tardive syndrome observed in psychiatric patients—schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
in particular—and was treated with typical antipsychotic
Typical antipsychotic
Typical antipsychotics are a class of antipsychotic drugs first developed in the 1950s and used to treat psychosis...
s or neuroleptics, the only kind of antipsychotic drugs available at the time.
Tardive dysphrenia
Tardive dysphrenia
The medical expression tardive dysphrenia, was proposed by the American neurologist Stanley Fahn, the head of the Division of Movements Disorders of the Neurological Institute of New York, in collaboration with the psychiatrist David V Forrest in the 1970s....
was conceived to precede tardive dyskinesia
Tardive dyskinesia
Tardive dyskinesia is a difficult-to-treat form of dyskinesia that can be tardive...
and the other already-known neuroleptic-induced tardive syndromes (tardive dystonia
Dystonia
Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder, in which sustained muscle contractions cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. The disorder may be hereditary or caused by other factors such as birth-related or other physical trauma, infection, poisoning or reaction to...
, tardive akathisia
Akathisia
Akathisia, or acathisia, is a syndrome characterized by unpleasant sensations of inner restlessness that manifests itself with an inability to sit still or remain motionless...
). More recently, the Brazilian psychiatrist Leopoldo Hugo Frota extended Fahn's original construct to encompass the independently-described but etiologically-related concepts of rebound psychosis
Psychosis
Psychosis means abnormal condition of the mind, and is a generic psychiatric term for a mental state often described as involving a "loss of contact with reality"...
, supersensitivity psychosis (Guy Chouinard), and schizophrenia pseudo-refractoriness (Heinz Lehmann
Heinz Lehmann
Heinz Edgar Lehmann, OC, FRSC was a German born Canadian psychiatrist best known for his use of chlorpromazine for the treatment of schizophrenia in 1950s....
& Thomas Ban) or secondary acquired refractoriness.