[Dancing Charcot: Grande Hystérie, Grand Hypnotism, and Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizure]

Charcot's observations of hysteria were reproduced in a textbook written by Paul Richer (1881). These consisted of hysterical seizures (grande hystérie), interictal pseudo-neurological signs, and grand hypnotism. Hysterical seizures were reported to start during the epileptoid period, followed by the contortion-grand movement period, attitude passionnelle period, and finally ended in the delusional period. We compared Charcot's observations with those derived from psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. In conclusion, Charcot may have not only diagnosed patients with hysteria but also danced with them, producing once-in-a-lifetime symptoms as a result of the chemistry between him and his patients.