Gustav Flaubert’s “nervous disease”: An autobiographic and epileptological approach

Gustav Flaubert’s “nervous disease”: An autobiographic and epileptological approach

Abstract More than 20 years ago, complex partial epilepsy of occipital-temporal origin was suggested as having been the “nervous disease” of Gustave Flaubert, one of the most famous French novelists. The aim of the present work, therefore, was to reevaluate the diagnosis of Flaubert’s “nervous disea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epilepsy & behavior Vol. 11; no. 2; pp. 212 - 217
Main Authors: Arnold, Luzia M, Baumann, Christian R, Siegel, Adrian M
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01-09-2007
Subjects:
Autobiography as Topic
Behavior
Epilepsy - epidemiology
Epilepsy - history
Epilepsy - physiopathology
Flaubert
History, 19th Century
Humans
Interictal syndrome
Male
Middle Aged
Nervous System Diseases - complications
Nervous System Diseases - epidemiology
Nervous System Diseases - history
Neurology
Psychopathology
Temporal lobe epilepsy
Temporal lobe epilepsy
Behavior
Psychopathology
Interictal syndrome
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Summary:Abstract More than 20 years ago, complex partial epilepsy of occipital-temporal origin was suggested as having been the “nervous disease” of Gustave Flaubert, one of the most famous French novelists. The aim of the present work, therefore, was to reevaluate the diagnosis of Flaubert’s “nervous disease” in the light of reemerged biographic information and letters, as well as the numerous scientific advances in epilepsy and its psychopathology in recent years. If the semiology of the reported attacks is considered, epilepsy ranks among the most probable diagnoses. In our opinion, psychopathological considerations suggest primary involvement of mesial temporal lobe structures with typical findings of ictal and interictal mood behavior.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-2
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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ObjectType-Feature-3
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ObjectType-Biography-4
ISSN:1525-5050
1525-5069
DOI:10.1016/j.yebeh.2007.04.011