[Paranoia Querulans in the First Half of the 20th Century: The Case of Elsa Asenijeff (1867-1941) and the German Psychiatric Literature of that Time].

OBJECTIVE

The writer Elsa Asenijeff was placed under guardianship based on the diagnosis paranoia querulans in 1921. The aim of this study was to commemorate her case and to question how this clinical picture was understood at the time in order to contribute to the history of this little researched disorder.

METHODS

We illustrate the essence of Asenijeffs forensic examinations and of the descriptions of paranoia querulans in selected German psychiatric literature of the beginning of the 20th century.

RESULTS

The literature describes paranoia querulans as a delusional disorder provoked by judicial conflict. The selected authors offer different theories of its genesis and classification.

CONCLUSIONS

The symptoms described in the forensic examinations are in accordance with the doctrine of academic psychiatry of the time. The chosen literature also illustrates the difficulties of a clear distinction between mental health and illness.