[The psychopathology of a depressive somato-autonomic symptom complex]

The investigation is based on the hypothesis about psychopathological heterogeneity of the somatovegetative (biological) symptom complex of depression. To testify this statement the results of the analysis of the somatovegetative component of depressive syndrome in randomized selection (20 adult patients) were presented. Somatovegetative symptoms (disorders of sleep and appetite mainly) defined the pattern of debut and preceded manifestations of other signs of affective disorder in this group. Psychopathological qualification of disorders belonging to such symptom complex was presented as the phenomena of alienation of the most deep vital psychic functions, exactly somato-vegetative drives. The main psychopathological statements were argued by the data about dynamics of such states, which were followed by transformation into typical vital depressions. The results obtained were interpreted in accordance with traditional K. Schneider's conception of "depression without depression".