[Basic problems in psychiatry].

The mind-body problem is the basis for discussing the fundamental problems of psychiatry. It is shown in this article that the inextricability of the mind-body problem is essentially conditioned by (apart from other factors) the (non-permissible) equating of philosophical and empirical propositions: psychic or mental = mind and somatic = soma or body. It is an essential fact, as far as psychiatry is concerned, that as a result of this non-permissible equating of the two concepts the mental and somatic "areas" are not differentiated further, which, in turn, leads to the well-known controversies.

[Medical thinking and ways of acting in national socialism].

The historical background of the legislative measures to purify the Germanic race and the "practical measures to strengthen the German people" is the biologistic way of thinking in the 19th century. This evolved from Darwinism, leading to the so-called Social Darwinism. Its final consequence was the murdering of "inferior" human beings, which included murdering mentally ill and mentally retarded people.

[Psychogenic psychoses. A review of the clinical picture, genesis, prognosis and therapy].

The concept of psychogenic psychosis has always been regarded with scepticism, since it seems to harbour a contradiction in itself: Psychogenic mental disturbances are amenable to a rational approach, that is to say, they are understandable, whereas psychoses are incomprehensible mental disease patterns in respect of their content and course. Nevertheless, psychogenic psychoses have been described fairly often ever since scientific psychiatry came into being; in fact, they are being diagnosed quite frequently in some countries. For the purpose of helping to clarify these theoretical and practical difficulties, the article explains the history of the concept, the clinical patterns of manifestation, and the course of psychogenic psychoses, as well as the concept of their origin.

[Lithium balance in mania].

Lithium balance studies were performed in 19 patients suffering from mania and 6 patients suffering from depression. The following results were obtained: (1) The mean daily requirement for lithium in the manic patients was 52 mM, in those with depression 30 mM (additional requirement in manic patients 73%). (2) Renal elimination of lithium, after optimal blood lithium levels had been reached, was 76% in mania and 97% in depression (retention in manic patients 21%).

[Lithium balance in healthy volunteers].

Lithium sulphate in a sustained-release preparation was given to three healthy volunteers during 10 days. The following results were obtained: 1. The daily requirement needed for maintenance of an efficient lithium serum level from 0.