Mental Symptoms in Homeopathy

From the Book

The mental symptoms are of special importance in homoeopathic prescribing.

They reflect the deepest aspect of the patient who experiences them and the remedies which evoke them; in many cases they take precedence over general and local symptoms, even when these have constituted the original complaint; and when correctly selected and matched, they can lead to a lasting cure.

The first part of this book studies one hundred and ninety-four rubrics relating to mental symptoms, drawn primarily from Kent's Repertory but also from Barthel and Klunker's Synthetic Repertory.

The rubrics are given in alphabetical order, nearly always singly but occasionally in small related groups, and are discussed in modern terms, referring wherever appropriate to rubrics of other mental symptoms for contrast or comparison.

The discussion is amplified by frequent reference to examples from the author's case-book. Many of the sections end with extracts of materia medica from Allen's Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica, the major source material for Kent's work.

The second part consists of the unedited transcripts of six initial consultations taken by the author during clinical classes.

Each of the verbatim interviews is followed by questions, discussion, repertorisation and the reasons for choosing the remedy. They are intended to show how a homoeopath may open a case, and how symptoms can come to light during the patient's first account of his or her complaint.

The book has comprehensive rubric and remedy indexes.

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Details

The rubrics are given in alphabetical order and are discussed in modern terms, referring wherever appropriate to rubrics of other mental symptoms for contrast or comparison.

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Author

Luis Detinis, MD

Dr. Luis Detinis qualified in medicine in 1972 at the University of Buenos Aires and also qualified in homeopathy the same year at the Argentine School of Homeopathic Medicine.

Studying under the late Dr. Tomás Pablo Paschero, he subsequently worked closely with Paschero. Detinis practices in Buenos Aires and holds the position of Clinical Professor at the Argentine School of Homeopathic Medicine.

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Reviews

Two Reviews:
1. The Homoeopath
2. Homoeopathic Links

The Homoeopath
No. 53, 1994

Reviewed by Christian Taylor DSH

In this book Luis Detinis sets out to produce a guide to translating the patients words into terms used in Kent's Repertory of Materia Medica 6th edition.

The first half of the book lists 194 (under 151 headings) of the 'most characteristic mental symptoms' appearing in Kent's repertory. Detinis gives a concise definition of each rubric as found in the dictionaries of Kent's time and based on his own experience.

Below this he gives 'practical examples' of how the patient may express these symptoms in the interview. He also refers the reader to other related rubrics.

Each rubric section ends with extracts of materia medica from TF Allen's Encyclopedia of Pure Materia Medica, to show the provers expressed these symptoms.

The second half contains transcriptions of six of Detinis' own cases, and are intended to show how a sound understanding of mental rubrics can be used effectively in finding the simillimum.

The first half of the book is well-researched and provides straight and clear definitions of many of the major rubrics.

There are some useful and subtle distinctions between seemingly similar rubrics, for example between 'Impetuous' and 'Impulsive', 'Egotistical' and 'Selfishness', or 'Cursing' and 'Abusive', to name a few.

He also tells us which rubrics to combine where, from his readings from the provings, he feels that there is little to differentiate, for example he combines 'Fear of Evil' with 'Fear that something will happen', to be used 'when one is dealing with a patient who has the latter symptom'.

This is all solid stuff though a general lack of imagination shows in the 'Delusion' section, where ten delusions are listed under a heading of 'paranoid structure' and a few other 'common' delusions are given only the briefest discussion. This is rather uninformative when compared with the work Rajan Sankaran has done in illuminating the delusion section of our repertories.

Detinis says of the extracts of materia medica that they could 'form the basis of further research'. This does seem to be the case, for in their present format they are of limited use, although they do serve to highlight the presence of small, lesser-known remedies.

The short introduction to the book is almost entirely taken up with quotes from Hahnemann, Kent and Paschero (Detinis worked with, and studied under the latter). These extracts, though appropriate, leave little room for Detinis to share his own insights and experiences that he has surely gained after some twenty years of homoeopathic practice. This sense of modesty runs through his cases in the second half of the book.

He holds back on giving a short, in some cases, any, explanation into his choice of one symptom over another for repertorisation informing us that selection 'should be based on the minimum syndrome of maximum value'. He shares little of his knowledge of remedy 'pictures'.

At the end of one case he lists his rubrics and gives Calcarea carbonica explaining that 'this is the only remedy which covers all the symptoms'.

The focus of this book is on translating patients' expressions into rubrics. The book is a useful tool in assisting us in this aim. This process is a fairly mechanical, if skilful process.

The artistry in homoeopathy is in perceiving which symptoms to translate in order to best describe the patient's state most accurately. That Detinis chooses not to illuminate his own internal process is a shame considering his experience.

All in all though, this is a useful book, especially for those who, like myself, need to feel very sure of a rubric's meaning before being able to use it with confidence. This book should be included on students' book lists.

Homoeopathic Links
Summer 1994

Reviewed by Lorraine Taylor

"Symptoms are nothing more than the outward expression of the vital force in a perturbed state.. the symptom produces suffering in a patient who is susceptible to it."

This book is an interesting study of the mental symptoms as used in homoeopathic prescribing.

The first part looks at 194 mind rubrics, describing the meaning of the word and how this may express in the remedy. The author gives "practical examples" of what the patient may say to indicate a particular rubric.

This, along with the subtle distinctions between rubrics of a similar meaning help in translating the patients expressions into useful rubrics, e.g. Malicious. Kent uses this as a general heading for several other closely-related symptoms: "Resentment", "Revengeful", "Spiteful", and vindictive etc.

As with other antisocial symptoms, the patient will not readily admit, even to himself, to being resentful. He may at most say, "I don't bear grudges, but I've got a good memory", or "I never forget".

When treating children, bear in mind that their sense of time is different to that of adults. If one asks the parents how long their child's fits of anger last, a reply such as "a few days" will indicate the presence of the symptom, for these few days are to a child what a few years are to an adult.

Manganum.
Embittered mood, implacable, and for a long time having a grudge against someone who had offended him.

Natrum muriaticum.
Hatred of people who had insulted him.

Nitricum acid.
Long-continued rancour, insensible to apologies and excuses.

Opium.
Very vindictive at night.<<

The section on delusions is overly concise, but in light of Sankaran's work this rubric would probably need a book to itself!

In the second part of the book Detinis presents 6 cases showing how a thorough understanding of the Mind rubrics are effective in finding the remedy. Although there is some explanation lacking here, especially explaining the choice of rubrics, on the whole this is a useful reference book with a good layout and index.

It is useful to compare with the similar work done by Kokelenberg and Dockx in Kent's Comparative Repertory of the Homoeopathic Materia Medica.

Detinis studied with Paschero and the book is translated from Spanish by J. N. Churchill.

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Contents

Preface -- 1-2
Introduction -- 3-7

Rubrics -- 8-214
Abusive-- 8
Affectionate -- 9
Anger, Irascibility -- 10
Anticipation, Complaints From -- 11
Anxiety, Conscience Of ( As If Guilty Of A Crime ) -- 12-13
Anxiety, Future, About -- 14-16
Anxiety, Health, About -- 17
Audacity; Rashness -- 18
Avarice; Covetous; Miserly -- 19
Business, Averse To -- 19
Capriciousness; Wants Something, He Knows Not What ; Refuses Things Asked For -- 20
Carried, Desires To Be -- 21
Cautious -- 21
Censorious, Critical ; Faultfinding -- 22-23
Chaotic -- 24
Childish Behavior -- 25
Clairvoyance -- 26
Communicative -- 27
Company, Aversion To, Dreads Being Alone, Yet -- 27
Complaining, Grumbling -- 28
Confidence, Want Of Self -- 29
Conscientious About Trifles ; Scrupulous -- 32
Consolation Agg. -- 33
Contemptuous -- 34
Contradict, Disposition To -- 35
Contradiction, Is Intolerant Of ; Anger, Contradiction from -- 35
Contrary -- 37
Cowardice -- 37
Cruelty; Hardhearted -- 38
Dancing -- 39
Deceitful; Duplicity -- 39
Defiant -- 40
Delusions, Persecuted, That He Is -- 41
Destructiveness -- 42
Dictatorial; Dogmatic; Domineering -- 43
Dirtiness -- 44
Disobedience -- 44
Dwells On Past Disagreeable Occurrences -- 44
Egotism -- 45
Ennui -- 46
Envy -- 48
Fanaticism -- 49
Fear -- 50
Fear, Accidents Of -- 50
Fear, Alone, Of Being -- 50
Fear, Animals, Of -- 50
Fear, Crowd, In A -- 50
Fear, Dark -- 51
Fear, Death, Of -- 51
Fear, Destination, Of Being Unable To Reach His -- 51
Fear, Disease, Of Impending -- 52
Fear, Evil, Of -- 52
Fear, Ghosts, Of -- 55
Fear, High Places, Of --56
Fear, Narrow Places, In -- 56
Fear, Noise, From -- 56
Fear, Poverty; Fear, Ruin Financial, Of; Fear, Want, Of -- 57
Fear, Public Places, Of -- 57
Fear, Riding, When In A Carriage -- 57
Fear, Robbers, Of -- 57
Fear, Stomach, Arising From; Stomach, Apprehension, In -- 58
Fear, Thunderstorm, Of -- 59
Foolish Behaviour; Silly; Buffoonery -- 59
Forebodings -- 60
Forsaken Feeling; Loneliness -- 61
Frivolous -- 63
Frown, Disposed To -- 63
Grief, Ailments, From -- 64
Grief, Silent -- 64
Haughty; Arrogance; Pride; Imperious -- 65
Heedless; Careless -- 66
Helplessness, Feeling Of -- 66
Home, Desire To Leave -- 67
Homesickness -- 67
Hopeful -- 68
Hopeless -- 69
Horrible Things, Sad Stories, Affect Her Profoundly -- 70
Hurry -- 71
Impatience -- 72
Impertinence -- 73
Impetuous -- 73
Impulsive -- 73
Inconsolable -- 74-75
Inconstancy -- 76
Indifference -- 76
Indifference, Everything, To -- 76-77
Indifference, Loved Ones, To -- 78
Indifference, Others, Toward -- 79
Indifference, Personal Appearance -- 79
Indifference, Pleasure, To -- 79
Indignation -- 80
Indolence, Aversion To Work; Ambition, Loss Of -- 81-82
Industrious, Work, Mania To; Activity, Desires -- 83
Insolent -- 84
Introspection -- 84
Irresolution -- 85
Irritability, Menses, Before -- 86
Irritability, Waking, On -- 86
Jealousy -- 87
Jesting; Facetiousness; Humorous -- 87
Lamenting, Bemoaning, Wailing -- 88
Laughing, Serious Matters, Over -- 89
Lie, Never Speaks The Truth; Liar -- 89
Loquacity -- 90
Love, Ailments, From Disappointed -- 90
Magnetized, Desires To Be -- 91
Malicious -- 91-92
Meddlesome -- 93
Memory, Weakness Of -- 93
Mildness; Gentleness -- 94
Misanthropy -- 94
Mischievous -- 95
Moaning, Groaning; Whining -- 96
Mocking; Facetiousness -- 96
Moral Feeling, Want Of -- 97
Mortification, Ailments After; Chagrin -- 97
Obstinate; Headstrong; stubborn -- 98
Occupational, Amel -- 99
Offended, Easily -- 100
Positiveness -- 101
Postponing Everything To Next Day -- 101
Precocity -- 102
Quarrelsome; Contentious; Scolding -- 102
Reserved -- 102
Rudeness -- 103
Sadness, Cloudy Weather -- 104
Scorn, Ailments From -- 104
Secretive -- 105
Selfishness -- 105
Sensitive, Noise, Slightest -- 106
Sensitive, Sensual Impressions, To -- 106
Sentimental -- 106
Seriousness; Earnestness; Gravity; Solemn -- 107
Sighing -- 108
Slowness -- 109
Sympathetic -- 109
Theorizing; Air Castles -- 110
Timidity; Shy; Embarrassed -- 111
Touch Things, Impelled To -- 112
Unfortunate, Feels -- 112-113
Unobserving -- 114
Violent -- 114
Weeping -- 115
Weeping, Admonitions, Cause -- 115
Weeping, Causeless -- 115
Weeping, Easily -- 116
Weeping, Involuntary -- 116
Weeping, telling of her sickness, when -- 117
Weeping, thanked when -- 117
Weeping, trifles at -- 117
Wicked disposition -- 118

Case Studies -- 119
Case I: Oscar O. -- 120
Case II: Marta -- 135
Case III: Jorge G. -- 153
Case IV: Mrs. E. -- 168
Case V: Maria P. -- 188
Case VI: Stella C. -- 204

Index of Remedies -- 215
Index of Rubrics -- 218

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