Uncommon Psychiatric Syndromes

This is a presentation of uncommon psychiatric disorders, each chosen for various reasons. The first is that although accounts of them can be found in various journals they are, on the whole, not particularly well dealt with in standard psychiatric textbooks and in several are hardly mentioned at all. All the syndromes can be regarded as "uncommon" in the sense of being remarkable or in some way unusual, although not necessarily rare. The most important reason governing the choice of contents is that one or more of the authors has made a particular study and has had considerable first-hand experience of each of the disorders described. Most of the case histories presented as illustrative examples are entirely new; a few only have been described before in papers published at one time or another by the authors themselves. An attempt has been made to lay out the presentation of each syndrome in a consistent pattern. Where appropriate, historical data are dealt with including reference in some instances to relevant literary or dramatic works.
This is followed by a comprehensive a review as space has permitted of the scientific literature, delving back as far as practicable and including, whenever possible, reference to original sources. Illustrative case histories are then given, followed by a clinical description of the main features of each syndrome together, where necessary, with a discussion of the differential diagnosis. A section on psychopathology then follows in which an attempt has been made to maintain an eclectic approach considering both phenomenological and psychodynamic theories of causation and content. In most instances a short note on treatment and prognosis is given.
 
This is a presentation of uncommon psychiatric disorders, each chosen for various reasons. The first is that although accounts of them can be found in various journals they are, on the whole, not particularly well dealt with in standard psychiatric textbooks and in several are hardly mentioned at all. All the syndromes can be regarded as "uncommon" in the sense of being remarkable or in some way unusual, although not necessarily rare. The most important reason governing the choice of contents is that one or more of the authors has made a particular study and has had considerable first-hand experience of each of the disorders described. Most of the case histories presented as illustrative examples are entirely new; a few only have been described before in papers published at one time or another by the authors themselves. An attempt has been made to lay out the presentation of each syndrome in a consistent pattern. Where appropriate, historical data are dealt with including reference in some instances to relevant literary or dramatic works.
This is followed by a comprehensive a review as space has permitted of the scientific literature, delving back as far as practicable and including, whenever possible, reference to original sources. Illustrative case histories are then given, followed by a clinical description of the main features of each syndrome together, where necessary, with a discussion of the differential diagnosis. A section on psychopathology then follows in which an attempt has been made to maintain an eclectic approach considering both phenomenological and psychodynamic theories of causation and content. In most instances a short note on treatment and prognosis is given.