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[The concept of "vegetative depression" (1949) by Rudolf Lemke--an obsolete concept?]
Julia Thormann1, Hubertus Himmerich, Holger Steinberg
1Archiv für Leipziger Psychiatriegeschichte, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universität Leipzig.
Objective:
In 1949 East German psychiatrist Rudolf Lemke presented his concept of a vegetative, i. e., anxious depression due to a vegetative dysfunction, in which the mental symptoms are dominated and oppressed by somatic complaints.
Methods:
The strengths and weaknesses of Lemke's concept will be analysed with particular reference to earlier, similar theories, such as those by Cimbal, Hempel, and Rosenfeld.
Results/Conclusions:
The fact that, due to the dominance of physical symptoms, many patients suffering from this disease consult a general practitioner even today proves that Lemke dealt with a problem most significant both for psychiatry and general medicine.
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