Læknablaðið - 01.06.1961, Síða 48

76
LÆKNABLAÐIÐ
*
and better theories af human
nature of whole human beings,
and in better and better techni-
ques for helping identify, sup-
port, extend and expand this
hunian urge toward self-realiza-
tion.
Earlier I said that while tend-
ing toward self-realization, the
human organism tends toward
maintaining itself as a whole,
as a unity and in a state of re-
lative constancy whether that
person is becoming healtbier or
siclter. I also said tliat a parti-
cular illness may be the road
a particular patient may have
to go to return to greater liealth
at a later date. Some patients,
slowly or rapidly, become sicker
and sicker never lo make that
return journey. Some tena-
ciously struggle against becom-
ing sicker, even wliile doing so.
And some seem to remain about
as sick for many years without
evidence of expected manifesta-
tions of deterioration.
The first person to whom I
wish to refer manifested just
this, a severe mental illness for
many years without visible evi-
dence of intellectual deteriora-
tion.
I first treated her in 1931
when I was a psychiatric interne
at Kings Park Hospital, Kings
Park, New York. Filled witli
youthful enthusiasm and a
somewhat unrealistic optimism,
I began treating a group of
psychotic female patients witli
Co2 and 02. This work is re-
ported in the 1932 Psychiatric
Quarterly. How mucli they were
lielped by the C02 and 02 is
doubtful, but tliey did receive
my almost constant attention
and interest for long periods,
and tlie benefits of the compe-
tence of a novice. Even in my
short life as psychiatrist I have
lived through the ups and
downs of many so-called physi-
cal cures for mental illness. It
is my conviction tliat there can
be no substitute for the human
factor in the human therapy of
mentally ill human beings. And
it is also my conviction that
newer and better physical ad-
juvants to aid in such tlierapy
should be constantly and ard-
ently sought for.
And now to tell you about
Clara. She was in a mental
liospital more than lialf of her
life, from about the age of 19,
and was diagnosed dementia-
praecox, hebephrenic type. The
number of her total liospitaliza-
tions must have been at least
15. I saw her when she was
about 26. She received C02 and
02 ti'eatment with no change
in her condition. Slie was still
in the hospital a year later when
I left. I saw lier again in 1944.
Off and on over the years she
had begged and badgered her
mother to bring lier to see me.
Exhausted and in despair the