Degradation
Historical document, translated for reference. It reflects medical knowledge of the 1920s–30s and is not medical advice.
Summary
This 1930s encyclopedia article defines psychic degradation as the lowering of the overall personality level resulting from various endogenous and exogenous factors. It notes that this condition can stem from progressive diseases such as general paralysis, cerebral arteriosclerosis, schizophrenia, and epilepsy, as well as chronic intoxications and social causes.
Encyclopedia entry (1928–1936)
DEGRADATION, psychic, a lowering of the general level of the personality, developing as a result of the action of various factors of both an endogenous and exogenous nature. Psychic degradation can be the consequence of the development of progressive diseases (progressive paralysis, cerebral arteriosclerosis, schizophrenia, epilepsy, etc.), as well as the influence of chronic intoxications and, finally, a number of social causes.
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“Degradation.” Soviet Medical Encyclopedia. English translation of Bolshaya Meditsinskaya Entsiklopediya, 1st ed. (Moscow, 1928–1936), ed. N. A. Semashko. https://sovietmedicalencyclopedia.pages.dev/article/degradation/