Hysteria

Abstract

Hysteria (Briquet's disorder) is one of the oldest illnesses known to man. It occurs chiefly in women and involves multiple complaints without medical explanation in nearly every organ system. Conversion symptoms (unexplained neurological symptoms) and sexual problems are particularly common. The disorder tends to begin early in life, and is usually fully expressed in the third decade. Recent clinical, epidemiological, and statistical investigations have established a close relationship between hysteria and antisocial personality (sociopathy). There is evidence that the two disorders may be part of the same process in which the severe form is expressed as sociopathy in both sexes while the mild form in women is expressed as Briquet's disorder.