PUERILISM

PUERILISM, a type of hysterical (often twilight) state characterized by naive, childish behavior. P. is a defensive asthenic reaction in psychopaths; psychologically, it is an escape from unpleasant reality into carefree childhood. This psychogenic syndrome was first described by Dupre in 1901, and later more thoroughly by Streitler on prison material, and is analogous to Ganser's twilight state (see Ganser's symptom), with which it is often combined. Patients display exclusively childish interests, try to turn everything into toys, are childishly capricious, affectionate, call themselves by diminutive names, imitate childish babbling, etc. The picture is so characteristic that it is recognized by facial expression and other expressive movements. P. usually lasts from several hours to several days, but in a short period can repeat several times. Cases are observed where P. stretches for months and years, which usually occurs in deeply psychopathic (pseudologia) or disabled (organic) people. Mild P. can be a 'prison overlay' on schizophrenia. P. is close to the 'fooling around' syndrome (Faxen-syndrom) described by Bleuler. The forensic-psychiatric interest in P. consists mainly in the fact that, developing during the investigation period, it raises the question of the prisoner's endurance to imprisonment. Special clinical and practical difficulties are observed in prolonged cases. The decisive moment in evaluating such a condition is the ground on which P. arises. It is characteristic that in recent times (2-3 years), in connection with the reorganization of places of detention in the USSR, such reactions have almost disappeared, thereby indicating the cause of their occurrence.