Discussion Preview 1 Charles Dickens and Faces of Perfection

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Discussion Preview 1Charles Dickens and Faces of
Perfection
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Charles Dickens A Neglected Diagnosis

• This topic addressed the misdiagnosis of Charles
  Dickens. Charles Dickens suffered from a myriad
  of symptoms, some of which effected his left
  side. He would complain of symptoms such as only
  being able to see halve letters, he would have
  horrid pains in his left foot (which would swell
  often), he would loose sensations in the left
  side of his body, and feel as if the left side of
  the world was falling. However, during the time
  of Dickens life (1800s) Dickens receive an
  unfortunate misdiagnosis because proper research
  had not been studied and his symptoms were
  attributed to the common illness back then known
  as gout.

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Summary of the study

• Dickenss symptoms
• read only halves of the shop doors that were on
  his right.
• Unusual irritability, with a tendency to go
  backwards and to turn around.
• Left foot- could bear for foot to be touched
  very tender as though in hot water, swelling and
  blistering.
• Severe pain in his left eye
• An unusual denial of symptoms

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Conclusion of the study

• Hemispherical neglect for words
• Paroxysmal Pains
• Hyperpathia
• Allodynia
• hypoalegesia
• Anaosognosia
• states that Dickens had a definite attack of the
  right side-sided cerebral insufficiency, and he
  dies pf apoplexy affecting the right side of the
  brain. Dickens' left-sided symptoms thus could
  suggest damage to the right temporoparietal area
  (McManus,2001).

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Implications of the study

• Hopefully, recent research can possibly with use
  of neural imaging and new technology repair
  damaged lobes restore feeling back to the
  appropriate side of the body.

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Questions for discussion

• How does this topic relate to previous
  information provided to us during Physiological
  Psychology?
• Discuss if there are any similarities of the
  diagnosis and disorders that we went over in
  class.

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Sources cited

• McManus, IC. Charles Dickens A Neglected
  Diagnosis. London The Lancet, 2001.