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HISTORICAL NEUROLOGY: Sallie Baxendale The intriguing case of Christina the Astonishing Neurology 2008; 70: 2004-2007 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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The intriguing case of Christina the Astonishing

Thierry Dubard de Gaillarbois   (6 February 2009)

Reply from the author

Sallie Baxendale   (6 February 2009)

The intriguing case of Christina the Astonishing 6 February 2009
Thierry Dubard de Gaillarbois, Clinique Saint André Reims, France Send Correspondence to journal: Re: The intriguing case of Christina the Astonishing fdubard{at}free.fr Thierry Dubard de Gaillarbois	I read with great interest Dr. Baxendale's article about the intriguing case of Christina the Astonishing. [1] I would suggest that Christina could have suffered from "hysteric crisis." At the end of the nineteenth century, the Salpêtrière school considered many of these cases, attributing possession by the devil and ecstasy as hysteric phenomena. Charcot and Richer drew a parallel between ancient drawings and paintings showing possession by the devil and the “grande attaque d'hystérie.” [2] Charcot also published, with Gilles de la Tourette among others, what is referred to as the "bibliothéque diabolique". [2, 3] This collection presented some astonishing cases of possession by the devil. The most famous was Soeur Jeanne des Anges, a 25-year-old nun who wrote her autobiography and described her exorcism. Her symptoms were explained as typical of hysteria by Gilles de la Tourette, [3] de Certeau, [4] and Huxley [5] who later studied this case. In my opinion, hysteria could explain the spectacular fits of Christina the Astonishing as she felt the need to run, hide and climb. Analgesia is also a hallmark of hysteria. Perhaps Christina the Astonishing would fit within the conception of the "attaque d'hystéro épilepsie"[6], which was in fact hysteria, or alternatively with the demoniac type of hysteria. References 1. Baxendale S. The intriguing case of Christina the Astonishing. Neurology 2008:70;2004-2007. 2. Charcot JM, Richer P. Les démoniaques dans l'art. Paris: Delahayes et Lecrosnier;1887. 3. Legue G, Gilles de la Tourette G. Soeur Jeanne des Anges supérieure des ursulines de Loudun, autobiographie d'une hystérique possédée. Bibliothèque diabolique. Paris: Delahayes et Lecrosnier;1886. 4. de Certeau M. Possession at Loudun. The University of Chicago Press; 2000. 5. Huxley, A. The Devils of Loudun. New York: Harper & Brothers; 1952. 6.Richer P. Etudes cliniques sur la grande hystérie ou hystéro-épilepsie. Paris: Delahayes et Lecrosnier;1881. Disclosure: The author reports no disclosures.
Reply from the author 6 February 2009
Sallie Baxendale, Institute of Neurology University College London, UK Send Correspondence to journal: Re: Reply from the author sallieb{at}ion.ucl.ac.uk Sallie Baxendale	Dr. Dubard de Gaillarbois presents a very reasonable differential diagnosis for the case of Christina the Astonishing. It seems probable that many conditions attributed to supernatural causes in the past would be understood within the confines of the DSM-IV today. However, in Christina’s case the history of a strong olfactory aura coupled with an episode of probable status epilepticus suggests that at least some of her experiences may have been peri-ictal in nature. It is entirely possible that she would have been treated by a neuropsychiatrist today with a dual diagnosis. Sadly, the stigma surrounding epilepsy—so eloquently described by Christina in the 13th Century—continues to be associated with many psychiatric conditions. Disclosure: The author reports no disclosures.