ABSTRACT:Hysteria is an ancient word for a common clinical condition. Although it no longer appears in official diagnostic classifications, "hysteria" is used here as a generic term to cover both "somatoform" and "dissociative" disorders as these are related psychopathological states. This paper reviews the clinical features of four hysterical syndromes known to occur in a neurologist's practice, viz conversion, somatization and pain disorders, and psychogenic amnesia. The presence in the clinical history of a multiplicity of symptoms, prodromal stress, a "model" for the symptom(s), and secondary reinforcement all suggest the diagnosis, and minimise the need for extensive investigations to rule out organic disease. Psychodynamic, behavioral, psychophysiologic and genetic factors have been proffered to explain etiology. Appropriate treatment involves psychotherapeutic, behavioral and pharmacological techniques. A basic requirement is to avoid errors of commission such as multiple specialist referrals and invasive diagnostic and treatment procedures. Hysteria is a remediable condition if identified early and managed appropriately. RESUME: L' "hysterie" en neurologie clinique. Hystdrie est un mot ancien utilise pour designer une affection fr6quente en clinique. Bien qu'on ne le retrouve plus dans les classifications diagnostiques officielles, le mot "hysterie" est utilise ici comme terme g6n£rique pour designer tant les desordres "somatoformes" que "dissociatifs", ces psychopathologies etant reliees. Cet article revoit les manifestations cliniques de quatre syndromes hysteYiques rencontres en pratique neurologique, a savoir la conversion, la somatisation et les troubles de la douleur, et l'amnesie psychogene. La presence d'une multitude de symptomes a l'histoire clinique, de stress comme prodrome, d'un "modele" des symptomes et de renforcement secondaire suggerent le diagnostic et minimise la necessity d'avoir recours a des investigations exhaustives pour eliminer une maladie organique. Des facteurs psychodynamiques comportementaux, psychophysiologiques et g6netiques ont et6 invoqu£s pour en expliquer l'etiologie. Un traitement approprie' doit inclure des techniques de psychotheYapie, de modification du comportement et un traitement pharmacologique. On doit avant tout eViter les erreurs de commission telles la consultation de plusieurs spdcialistes et les manoeuvres diagnostiques et theYapeutiques invasives. L'hysteYie est une affection curable si elle est identified tot et traitee de facon appropriee.Can. J. Neurol. Sci. 1995; 22: 101-110 "Hysteria" is an ancient and venerable word. It is derived from the Greek word for uterus and was coined by Hippocrates who thought that the condition occurred only in women and that it was caused by movement of the uterus in the body. Our concept of hysteria has gone through many changes since the time of Hippocrates. Hysterics were regarded as witches during the Middle Ages, and many were burnt or hanged on this account.