Psychosomatic Medicine 11:228-234 (1949)
© 1949 American Psychosomatic Society

Motor Attitudes and Psychotherapy

¹ Henry Phipps Psychiatric Clinic, Johns Hopkins Hospital. This study was aided by a grant from the Catatonia Research Fund

Case abstracts are reported of a representative group of hospitalized patients who showed striking motor behavior which became modified or remained unchanged in the course of psychiatric treatment. Observations included those made by physicians as well as other hospital personnel and indicated that they were not only more complete, but a much more reliable factor in evaluating dynamics and therapeutic progress. A considerable variety of commonly encountered themes were expressed in motor attitudes of which the patient was usually unaware. Relative freedom from restrictive interference was helpful to study the patient in action. The opinion is expressed that careful history taking of motor acts in addition to observing them while the patient is in the hospital should prove to be of considerable aid in a more objective evaluation of therapeutic progress.