[Feasibility of pathogenetic therapy for hysteria]

On the basis of combined clinico-dynamic and neurophysiological examinations of 371 patients with hysteria and 180 patients with hysteriform disturbances a concept on the necessity of their pathogenetic treatment with consideration of the stage and degree of the emotional disturbances is proposed. In cases of an acute or subacute course of the disease, combinations of hypnosuggestive therapy with modified autogenic training are shown to be effective. For patients with a lingering course combinations of psychotherapeutic and biological methods with the use of central cholinolytics (for relaxing the high tone of the cholinergic system), psychostimulants and antidepressants (for strengthening the tone of the serotoninergic structures) are indicated. In resistant cases, medicinal therapy with median and high doses of atropine is recommended. An individualized, staged complex approach to the therapy of hysteria with indispensable consideration of the age factor is shown to bae the most advisable.