[The historical diagnosis of 'hysterical scoliosis'].

BACKGROUND

Until the beginning of the 20th century, 'hysterical scoliosis' could be considered an established diagnosis in Middle Europe's German-speaking countries. The responsible physicians claimed that certain cases of scoliosis were caused solely by psychological factors, and they did not distinguish between real scoliosis (e.g. with neuromuscular cause) and abnormal posture caused by psychological reasons. Instead, 'hysterical scoliosis' was obviously believed to be a real scoliosis caused by psychologically induced contractures.

OBJECTIVE

This study critically discusses the historical diagnosis 'hysterical scoliosis' from today's point of view.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

This work is based on historical research (including journals and literature) approximately from the time around 1900. Furthermore, it is also based on recently discovered original material.

RESULTS

The original material is a correspondence between H. Schlesinger and G. Muskat, who published an article about 'hysterical scoliosis' in Schlesinger's journal.

CONCLUSIONS

Obviously, the underlying medical concepts of 'hysterical scoliosis' were wrong and led to clear diagnostic problems and inaccuracies. 'Hysterical scoliosis' can be considered one of adolescent psychiatry's early fashionable illnesses around the year 1900.