PSYCHIATRIC CASES IN AISEI-EN NATIONAL LEPROSARIUM

Abstract

50 psychiatric cases were observed at Aisei-en during the period April 1957-April 1958. They consisted of : a) Schizophrenia (12 cases) ; manic-depressive psychosis (1). b) Epilepsy (2) ; dementia senilis (6) ; disorder due to cerebral hemorrhage (1) ; general paresis (1). c) Mental deficiency (3) ; psychopathic personality (13) ; neurosis (11). Details on the forms of the above cases were given together with 3 case histories where leprosy and its sequelae were involved as psychogenic factors. The nature of the psy-chiatric cases was discussed with the following conclusions : 1) The incidence of functional and organic psychoses was 0.75% and 0.58% respectively;therefore no great difference was found from the rates in the total Japanese population. 2) There was to be found no form of psychosis peculiar to leprosy. 3) No special relations between the forms of leprosy and the psychoses were found. 4) Leprosy and its consequences were to be recognized as psychogenic inducement in the outbreak of 2 casof schizophrenia, as causes of a schizophrenic reaction in 1 psycho-pathic personality and as causative factors of several anxiety neuroses. 5) The rate of suicide at Aisei-en was 58 per 100, 000, which shows no great difference from that in the total Japanese population.