Erik Essen-Möller

Suggestions for further improvement of the international classification of mental disorders

The 8th revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) favoured classification of mental disorders by a combination of predominant syndrome and predominant aetiology. However, this important principle has been carried through incompletely, to the disadvantage of diagnostic flexibility and innovation. In addition, too much work is required for the retrieval of cases with the same aetiology irerspective of the syndromes they exhibit, or of cases with the same syndrome whether in the setting of a personality disorder, a neurosis, or a psychosis. The present paper suggests certain simplifications by which the principle of combined classification can hopefully be applied to develop a more comprehensive and flexible instrument.

A FAMILY WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE

Some time ago, when going through a series of case records of the St. Maria Hospital in Halsingborg, I came to a report of a patient with Alzheimer’s disease who had died there a few years previously. The diagnosia was made from clinical evidence by Dr. Torbring and confirmed histologically by Professor Sjiivall. They were kind enough to place their records a t my disposal. This case interested me because of a statement in the record that the patient’s father had died from a similar disease. My ciiriosity was aroused as to whether the father had also suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. I n addition, the patient’s brother was stated to be feebleminded, and I wondered whether some anomaly connected with Alzheimer’s disease, perhaps an abortive form, might not lie back of his “feeblemindedness”. I visited the home district of the family, met the brother and a few other relatives and also succeeded in finding a number of old inhabitants who could tell me something about the earlier life 6f the patient and his family. It came out that the patient had also had a sister whose fate proved to be interesting. The present communication gives a simple description of the observations made.

The psychology and psychiatry of Henrik Sjöbring (1879--1956).

An outline is provided of Henrik Sjöbrings contributions to psychology and psychiatry. Emphasis is placed on the significance of his work on mental functioning, personality dimensions and lesional disorders.

Evidence for polygenic inheritance in schizophrenia

A finding of Ödegaards, suggesting polygenic transmission of schizophrenia, is discussed and an attempt at replication presented.

Intrafamilial correlations in Sjöbring's dimensions of personality

This study attempts to ascertain whether intrafamilial correlations compatible with the assumption of a genetic background could be demonstrated for the variations in normal personality described by the Swedish psychiatrist H. Sjöbring. The sample consisted of the entire adult population of a circumscribed rural area in southern Sweden (the Lundby project). Certain methodological biases were considered, and heritabilities tentatively reported.

Do the Partners of Dizygotic Schizophrenic Twins Run a Greater Risk of Schizophrenia than Ordinary Siblings

An exceptionally high incidence in dizygotic co-twins of schizophrenic index cases, together with normal incidence in siblings, was reported by M. Fischer in 1973. Apart from chance fluctuation, a methodological explanation for the difference is suggested.