`Essay on a classification of different genera of insanity' by J. Baillarger (1853)

Abstract

International audience`das manisch-depressive Irresein', Bipolaritä

History of psychiatry and the psychiatric profession

“…This notwithstanding, Baillarger re-shuffled Esquirol's classification [Lypemania (Melancholia); Monomania; Mania; Dementia; Imbecility)] into Monomania (madness with partial lesion of the intellect); Melancholia (general lesion of the intellectual and moral functions) and Mania (general lesion). Berrios [19 ] nevertheless writes that 'it could be speculated that this change was responsible for the development of the view that mania and melancholia were expressions of a primary ''lesion of mood'', that is, of the view that was to come via Kraepelin into the 20th century' ( [19 ] p. 360). Berrios ([19 ] p. 359) points out how 'preconceived taxonomic criteria determine, in a ''top-to-bottom fashion'', the very ''clinical'' boundaries of mental disorders.…”

“…Although Baillarger is famous for his description of 'insanity with a double form', Berrios [19 ] decries the 'who said it first' approach to psychiatry. He says that Baillarger's description should not be seen as 'the first step in an incremental approximation to the same disease' as the 'DSM-IV's 'Bipolar I and Bipolar II' disorder' via 'Kraepelin's das manisch-depressive Irresein and Leonhard's concept of Bipolarita¨t'.…”

“…Berrios [19 ] demonstrates again his encyclopaedic knowledge, with an incisive and original analysis of the work of one of Esquirol's disciples, the French psychiatrist Jules Baillarger (1809Baillarger ( -1890. Although Baillarger is famous for his description of 'insanity with a double form', Berrios [19 ] decries the 'who said it first' approach to psychiatry.…”

“…He says that Baillarger's description should not be seen as 'the first step in an incremental approximation to the same disease' as the 'DSM-IV's 'Bipolar I and Bipolar II' disorder' via 'Kraepelin's das manisch-depressive Irresein and Leonhard's concept of Bipolarita¨t'. According to Berrios [19 ], this text by Baillarger [20] was important because it showed the latter's view that the concept of 'lesion' would be a better classificatory criterion than behavioural markers. Berrios [19 ] points out that the problem with this approach was that the notion of lesion was rather vague.…”

“…According to Berrios [19 ], this text by Baillarger [20] was important because it showed the latter's view that the concept of 'lesion' would be a better classificatory criterion than behavioural markers. Berrios [19 ] points out that the problem with this approach was that the notion of lesion was rather vague. This notwithstanding, Baillarger re-shuffled Esquirol's classification [Lypemania (Melancholia); Monomania; Mania; Dementia; Imbecility)] into Monomania (madness with partial lesion of the intellect); Melancholia (general lesion of the intellectual and moral functions) and Mania (general lesion).…”