[Mental disorders caused by organic illness. The symptomatic psychoses. Conclusion]

Especially in times when psychodynamic points of view in psychiatry seem the main focus of attention, one must not forget the primary somatic basis of many psychic disturbances. If such cases are not promptly diagnosed, there is a danger that appropriate therapy will be neglected. Since every imaginable type of psychic symptomatology can at times be organically caused, the organic point of view still is of immense practical value. In addition, this latter aspect is of great theoretical importance, because it illuminates the dynamic process not only of the symptomatic psychoses but also of the so-called endogenous psychoses. After a short review of alterations of consciousness as well as the presentation of a detailled case report, psychic disturbances, which at first glance appear not to be organically determined, are described and discussed.