伴儿童期受虐史大学生的神经系统软体征发生状况及其相关因素

目的:了解伴儿童受虐待史的大学生神经系统软体征的发生状况和特征,及神经软体征的相关因素。方法:对长沙市两所高校1120名大学生进行儿童创伤问卷(CTQ)调查,根据Bernstein等制定的CTQ中-重度创伤暴露阈值筛查出儿童期受虐待阳性大学生312人,并随机抽取120人作为受虐待组,从无儿童期虐待史的大学生中随机抽取90人作为对照组。使用剑桥神经科检查(CNI)软体征测验测试分量表评价神经系统软体征、抑郁自评量表(SDS)测量抑郁水平和焦虑自评量表(SAS)测量焦虑水平,最终完成以上三项测验的有效人数分别为100人(受虐待组),83人(对照组)。结果:受虐待组的CTQ各种虐待因子分、SAS得分和SDS得分均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。在软体征测验测试分量表的右镜像运动2和左皮肤书写觉测验中,受虐待组较对照组异常率高,且差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。相关分析发现,神经系统软体征测验的总分与SAS得分呈正相关(r=0.16),神经软体征的感觉统合得分与SAS得分以及CTQ的性虐待、情感忽视得分呈正相关(r=0.16、0.18、0.18)。结论:儿童期虐待经历可能是大学生神经系统软体征的相关因素。     

精神分裂症少年的神经系统软体征、执行功能与临床症状

目的:探讨少年精神分裂症患者神经系统软体征和执行功能特点及其与临床症状的相关性.方法:纳入13～18岁符合国际疾病和相关健康问题分类第十版(ICD-10)诊断标准的精神分裂症少年患者60例及性别、年龄匹配的60例正常对照,使用剑桥神经科检查(CNI)软体征测试分量表对两组进行神经系统软体征检查和评分,使用Stroop色字命名任务测试两组的执行功能,使用简明精神病评定量表(BPRS)评估精神分裂症组的临床症状,并对该组进行锥体外系副反应(EPS)评估.结果:精神分裂症组CNI软体征测试分量表有11项评分及异常发生率均高于正常对照组(均P＜0.05),神经系统软体征总分[9.0(4.0,15.0) vs.1.5 (1.0,3.0)]及原始反射[0.0(0.0,1.0) vs.0.0(0.0,0.0)]、运动协调[4.5(1.0,6.8) vs.0.0 (0.0,1.0)]、感觉统合[2.0(1.0,4.0) vs.1.0 (0.0,1.8)]3项因子分均高于正常对照组(均P＜0.05).精神分裂症组神经系统软体征总分及各因子分与病程、锥体外系不良反应及BPRS总分均无相关(r=-0.12～0.20,均P＞0.05),运动协调因子分与BPRS焦虑忧郁和敌对猜疑因子分呈正相关(r=0.32、0.27,均P＜0.05),感觉统合因子分与BPRS缺乏活力因子分呈正相关(r=0.29,P=0.030).精神分裂症组Stroop色字命名任务三部分测试耗时均长于正常对照组(均P＜0.001),第3试错误数多于正常对照组[1.5(0,4.8) vs.1.0(0,2.0),P=0.003].精神分裂症组Stroop色字命名任务三部分测验耗时及第2试错误数均与BPRS评分呈正相关(r=0.27～0.39,P＜0.05).结论:精神分裂症少年患者存在明显的神经系统软体征异常和选择性注意及反应抑制功能缺陷.其中阳性症状、阴性症状、情感症状较重的患者神经系统软体征异常更显著;临床症状(尤其阳性症状、阴性症状)较重的患者选择性注意及反应抑制功能缺陷也更显著.     

分裂型人格倾向青少年的神经系统软体征研究

目的:探讨分裂型人格倾向青少年的神经系统软体征的发生状况.方法:对3010名一般青少年采用人格诊断问卷及剑桥神经科检查中的软体征检查分量表进行评定.依据人格诊断问卷中的分裂型人格障碍分量表筛查出116名有分裂型人格倾向的青少年,在没有人格障碍倾向的青少年中随机抽取116名青少年作为对照组.对两组青少年的神经系统软体征得分进行比较.结果:①分裂型人格倾向青少年的右手轮替运动障碍、左手拳-手-掌运动障碍及左右定位障碍的检出率,及表现出1项及以上阳性神经系统软体征的检出率均显著高于对照组(P＜0.05).②分裂型人格倾向青少年的运动协调分、感觉统合分、脱抑制分、神经系统软体征总分、左侧及右侧神经系统软体征得分均显著高于对照组(P＜0.05).③Logistic回归分析结果显示,分裂型人格倾向的影响因素有感觉整合和脱抑制.结论:分裂型人格倾向青少年比一般青少年表现出更明显的神经系统软体征症状.神经系统软体征可能是分裂型人格障碍的一个特质性指标.     

神经性厌食少年的神经系统软体征

目的:了解神经性厌食少年的神经系统软体征特点及其相关因素。方法:入组符合ICD-10神经性厌食诊断标准的少年32例及性别、年龄相匹配的正常对照32例,使用剑桥神经科检查(CNI)软体征测试分量表对两组被试进行神经系统软体征检查和评分。结果:神经性厌食组CNI软体征测试分量表中有9项的异常发生率均高于正常对照组(均P0.05),软体征测试分量表分[5.0(1.0,20.0)vs.2.0(0.0,8.0)]及运动协调[3.5(0.0,15.0)vs.1.0(0.0,8.0)]、感觉统合[2.0(0.0,8.0)vs.0.5(0.0,5.0)]2个因子分均高于正常对照组(均P0.05)。神经性厌食组软体征测试分量表分及运动协调、感觉统合因子分与年龄、性别、病程、体质量指数(BMI)及共病抑郁相关性均无统计学意义(r=-0.22～0.29,均P0.05)。结论:神经性厌食少年可能存在神经系统软体征异常,且异常严重程度与年龄、性别、病程、体质量指数及共病抑郁无明显相关性。     

一般少年人群神经系统软体征的发生状况

目的:调查一般少年神经系统软体征的发生状况,了解不同性别、年龄少年的神经系统软体征的差异.方法:采用两阶段随机整群取样的方法,抽取5个城市的3247名14 ～ 19岁的少年.使用剑桥神经科检查(CNI)软体征测试分量表进行神经系统软体征检测.该分量表包括运动协调、感觉整合、脱抑制三个因子,得分越高表明神经系统软体征越严重.结果:本样本中,不同类型神经系统软体征的发生率在0.5％ ～27.2％之间,最常发生的神经系统软体征依次为左手手指感觉障碍(27.2％)、右手手指感觉障碍(25.7％)、节律拍打障碍(25.1％)、左右定位障碍(18.3％)和左手皮肤书写感障碍(14.5％).男生的运动协调分[(0.8±1.4) vs.(0.6±1.2)]、感觉整合分[(1.2±1.4) vs.(1.0±1.3)]、脱抑制分[(0.3±0.6)vs.(0.2±0.5)]及神经系统软体征总分[(2.6±2.9) vs.(2.0±2.5)]均高于女生(均P＜0.01).不同年龄组少年在运动协调分、感觉整合分、脱抑制分及神经系统软体征总分上差异均有统计学意义(均P＜0.001),表现为低年龄组得分高于高年龄组得分.结论:一般少年存在不同程度的神经系统软体征阳性症状,男生比女生表现出更明显的神经系统软体征症状,神经系统软体征随年龄的增长呈下降趋势.     

抑郁症患者神经软体征的行为学测评

目的:探讨抑郁症患者的神经软体征的行为学特征。方法:以68例符合美国精神障碍诊断与统计手册第4版(DSM-IV)诊断标准的门诊或住院抑郁症患者及68名健康对照为研究对象,采用剑桥神经科检查(CNI)软体征测试分量表,从运动协调、感觉整合、抑制功能三方面对两组对象进行神经软体征的行为学测查。并使用汉密顿抑郁量表(HAMD)评估抑郁症患者的病情严重程度。本调查中所有患者均处于抑郁缓解期,且均正在接受抗抑郁药物的治疗。结果:抑郁症组的HAMD平均得分为(18.2±7.8)。抑郁症组与对照组的神经软体征测试总分[(3.2±2.8)vs.(3.5±2.6)]、运动协调分[(0.9±1.3)vs.(1.2±1.6)]、感觉整合分[(1.5±1.5)vs.(1.3±1.0)]、抑制功能分[(0.8±0.9)vs.(0.9±1.0)]差异均无统计学意义(均P0.05)。结论:本研究显示处于抑郁缓解期并接受抗抑郁药物治疗的抑郁症患者与健康对照的神经软体征整体表现基本一致。     

首发精神分裂症患者的运动协调功能与前额叶白质及皮质脊髓束完整性

目的:应用弥散张量成像(DTI)探讨首发精神分裂症患者神经系统软体征中的运动协调功能与前额叶白质及皮质脊髓束各向异性比值(FA)的关系。方法:纳入42例符合美国精神障碍诊断与统计手册第4版(DSM-IV)诊断标准的首发精神分裂症患者和46例年龄、性别及受教育年限相匹配的健康对照。两组研究对象均用剑桥神经科检查(CNI)评定神经系统软体征,并接受头颅磁共振成像检查。用阳性与阴性症状量表(PANSS)评估患者组基线和半年后的临床症状。用感兴趣区测定的方法,分析患者组和对照组神经系统软体征中的运动协调领域分与前额叶白质及皮质脊髓束各层面(内囊、大脑脚、小脑中脚水平)FA值间的关系。结果:神经系统软体征中的运动协调领域分在患者组中与前额叶白质FA值呈正相关(r=0.35,P0.05),在健康对照中则与小脑中脚水平皮质脊髓束FA值呈正相关(r=0.34,P0.05)。将患者按半年后阴性症状分为高分组和低分组,高分组运动协调领域分与前额叶白质(r=0.68,P0.05)呈正相关,与小脑中脚水平皮质脊髓束(r=-0.67,P0.05)FA值呈负相关;低分组则与内囊FA值呈正相关(r=0.60,P0.05)。结论:本研究提示首发精神分裂症患者半年后阴性症状高分组、低分组及正常人群中,运动协调功能相关的脑区分别为前额叶、内囊和小脑中脚层面的皮质脊髓束,提示有必要进一步研究运动协调功能相关的脑区不同对患者预后的预测意义。     

强迫症患者与精神分裂症患者的执行功能

目的:比较强迫症和精神分裂症患者执行功能损害的特点。方法:本研究为横断面研究。研究对象为符合中国精神障碍分类与诊断标准第3版诊断标准的强迫症(n=29)和精神分裂症门诊患者(n=30),以及年龄和教育程度匹配的正常对照(n=30)。所有被试接受威斯康星卡片、连线测验、河内塔测验、言语流畅性测验等神经心理学测验评定执行功能。结果:威斯康星卡片测验中,强迫症患者总操作时间短于精神分裂症患者(P0.05),与正常对照接近(P0.05);完成归类数目多于精神分裂症患者(P0.05),与正常对照接近(P0.05);错误应答数目少于精神分裂症患者(P0.05),与正常对照接近(P0.05);完成第一分类所需的应答需要的卡片数目多于精神分裂症患者和正常对照(P0.05)。连线测验中,强迫症患者在连线B的时间和错误数少于精神分裂症患者(均P0.05),与正常对照接近(P0.05)。河内塔测试中,强迫症患者的移动次数和出错次数与精神分裂症患者差异无统计学意义(均P0.05),但多于正常对照(均P0.05)。结论:强迫症总体执行功能水平比精神分裂症水平高,但是概念理解能力差。     

首发精神分裂症及其健康同胞神经心理功能的比较

目的:探讨首发精神分裂症患者及其健康同胞神经心理功能差异。方法:采用范畴流利测验、连线测验(TMT)、数字符号编码测验和Stoop测验对在92例首发精神分裂症患者、56例健康同胞及62例健康对照者进行测评。结果:首发精神分裂症患者及其健康同胞所有神经心理测验成绩均差于健康对照组(P<0.05)。与健康同胞组比较,首发精神分裂症患者组除范畴流利测验外,其他神经心理测验成绩差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:首发精神分裂症患者及其健康同胞存在认知损害,语义流畅性功能可能是精神分裂症的潜在内表型。     

缺陷与非缺陷型精神分裂症的脑电图分析

精神分裂症缺陷型比非缺陷型具有更多的神经系统软体征 ,提示缺陷型精神分裂症的脑器质性改变更为明显[1 ] 。一般而言脑电图 (ＥＥＧ)是脑细胞功能的最直接反应[2 ] ,据此我们对 6 9例住院精神分裂症患者ＥＥＧ进行了分析比较 ,报告如下。1　对象与方法研究对象 :研究对象为临沂市荣军医院住院的男性精神分裂症患者。符合ＣＣＭＤ— 2—Ｒ关于精神分裂症的诊断标准。均无躯体疾病及神经系统疾病 ,检查合作。使用Ｃａｒ ｐｅｎｔｅｒ关于缺陷型综合征的诊断标准对入组病人进行诊断 ,结果 :缺陷型 30例 ,平均年龄 4 3 5± 9 8岁 ,平均病程 18…     

Renal dysplasia and asplenia in two sibs

A family is reported in which two sibs, one male and the other female, both died within 24 hours of birth with enlarged polycystic kidneys. Postmortem histology in the second child showed gross renal dysplasia. In both children the pancreas was enlarged, nodular and cystic but the liver appeared macroscopically normal. In the second child, histological examination confirmed pancreatic fibrosis with cystic dilation of ducts, but showed portal fibrosis with bile duct proliferation in the liver.
This combination of findings is very reminiscent of those in a girl and her brother reported by Ivemark et al. (1959). The children reported here also showed absence or hypoplasia of the spleen, cardiac anomalies and other features of the Ivemark syndrome (Ivemark 1955), a quite different, usually sporadic, congenital disorder. It is suggested that the children described here have a distinct lethal congenital disorder, probably inherited in an autosomal recessive manner.     

Schizophrenia in a North Swedish geographical isolate, 1900–1977. Epidemiology, genetics and biochemistry

Over 200 schizophrenic patients belonging to three major and interrelated pedigree complexes have been investigated over the past 30 years in a North Swedish geographically isolated population, presently numbering about 6,000. An intensive investigation of a number of biochemical correlates and genetic markers in a few selected families belonging to one of the major pedigrees has indicated new strategies for the current research program.
Schizophrenia, as defined operationally, is significantly associated with decreased activities of two enzymes (1) blood platelet monoamine oxidase, (2) plasma dopamine-β-hydroxylase, and (3) with the genetic marker Gc² (group specific antigen). Both enzymes are subject to genetic variation. A positive score for linkage between schizophrenia and low plasma DBH activity has been calculated, but, so far, available data are insufficient for discrimination between linkage and partial contribution of genetically controlled low plasma DBH to the pathogenesis of the disease. Alternatively, both mechanisms could be involved.
As a model for continued research, schizophrenia is explained as based on a double dominant-recessive genotype (Aabb), representing a vulnerability which in about 50 % of cases develops into clinical schizophrenia. It is suggested that the dominant mutation (A) operates on or affects MAO activity, and that the recessive genotype (bb) is instrumental in low variates of DBH activity and very likely such variates within the normal range of physiological variation. Moreover, it is suggested that the combined effects of MAO- and DBH-reduced efficiency on the metabolism of e.g. dopamine could be an essential pathogenic mechanism for the schizophrenic illness which is segregating in this population.     

What will studies of Fulani individuals naturally exposed to malaria teach us about protective immunity to malaria?

There are an estimated over 200 million yearly cases of malaria worldwide. Despite concerted international effort to combat the disease, it still causes approximately half a million deaths every year, the majority of which are young children with Plasmodium falciparum infection in sub-Saharan Africa. Successes are largely attributed to malaria prevention strategies, such as insecticide-treated mosquito nets and indoor spraying, as well as improved access to existing treatments. One important hurdle to new approaches for the treatment and prevention of malaria is our limited understanding of the biology of Plasmodium infection and its complex interaction with the immune system of its human host. Therefore, the elimination of malaria in Africa not only relies on existing tools to reduce malaria burden, but also requires fundamental research to develop innovative approaches. Here, we summarize our discoveries from investigations of ethnic groups of West Africa who have different susceptibility to malaria.     

The universal muscular chain reaction,muscle spasm,Torsions, ruptures and extravasations. Chameleons of pathology and some manifestations of simple muscular disorders

Most bodily functions require the coordinated actions of complementary and supplementary paired muscle groups. Where this essential muscular cooperation is lacking, hollow organs may burst and others become literally screwed up, giving rise to many similar spastic diseases such as Torticollis, Twisted ovarian cyst, Torsion of the Testis, Volvulus of the intestines, Varicose Veins, Megacolon, Aortamegaly, Scoliosis, Erb's Palsy, Peyronie's Disease, Main-en-Griffe, Undescended Foot (Pes Cavus), Talipes, Strabismus. Spasm is “panenepidemic” and unclassified examples of Torsion Dystonia and Dyskinesia really are as common as debt and taxes.     

The dominant diseases of modernized societies as omega-3 essential fatty acid deficiency syndrome: Substrate beriberi

About 1900, modern food selection and processing caused widespread $\text{epidemics}$ of the B vitamin deficiency diseases of beriberi and pellagra which, for genetic reasons, often expressed as different diseases ranging from bowel and heart disease to dermatoses and psychoses. But the B vitamins merely help convert essential fatty acids (EFA) into the prostaglandin (PG) tissue regulators and it now turns out that, through hydrogenation, milling and selection of w3-poor southern foods, we have also been systematically depleting, by as much as 90%, a newly discovered trace Nordic EFA (w3) of special importance to primates and sole precursor of the PG3(4) series, even as a concurrent fiber deficiency increases body demand for EFA. Since substrate EFA is processed by many B vitamin catalysts, an EFA deficiency will mimic a $\text{panh}$ypovitaminosis B, i.e., a mixture of $\text{substrate}$ beriberi and $\text{substrate}$ pellagra resembling vitamin beriberi and pellagra but exhibiting as even more diverse $\text{endemic}$ disease. This would consitute a second stage of the Modern Malnutrition and explain why some workers now hold the dominant diseases of modermized societies to be new, nutritionally based, pellagraform yet lipid-related and to range, once again, from heart disease to psychosis. It is an assumption that our dominant diseases are unrelated to each other or are merely revealed by our diagnostic acumen and therapeutic success; and that hydrogenating millions of tons of food oils annually, to destroy the rancidity producing w3-EFA, is safe for $\text{primates}$. Extensive beriberiform disease is reported here in 32 typical cases taken from medical practice which responds strikingly to linseed oil supplements (60% w3-EFA) in confirmation of identical results in Capuchins.     

Hypo- und Hypermagnesämie aus kardiologischer Sicht

Zusammenfassung Eine Reihe pathologischer Zustände bedingen Magnesiummangel. Zustände mit Hypermagnesämie sind ebenfalls bekannt, doch wesentlich seltener. Für den Kardiologen beachtenswert ist, daß unter Therapie mit bestimmten Diuretica bei Herzinsuffizienz, bei Herzinfarkt, Kardiomyopathie, Digitalisintoxikation und bestimmten Herzrhythmusstörungen Hypomagnesämie beobachtet wurde. Leider kann in der klinischen Routine nur ein extracelluläres Magnesiumdefizit durch Serumbestimmungen gemessen werden; über Magnesiummangel einzelner Organe kann nichts ausgesagt werden. Hinweise für Magnesiummangel geben aber neben der Messung des Serumspiegels Anamnese, klinischer Befund, bestimmte EKG-Veränderungen wie auch evtl. Hypokalämie, ein Zustand, bei dem sich oft — besonders bei Aldosteronismus — parallele Veränderungen zeigten.Tierexperimente deuten darauf hin, daß infarktähnliche Läsionen unter Magnesiummangel entstehen, doch ob Herzinfarkt beim Menschen durch Magnesiummangel ausgelöst werden kann, ist noch ungeklärt. In Leichenherzen zeigte sich im Infarktgebiet neben Calciumakkumulation signifikanter Magnesiumverlust, wobei unklar blieb, ob sich Ursache oder Folge des Infarktes widerspiegelten. Falls ein ursächlicher Zusammenhang besteht, ist er im Myokardstoffwechsel selbst zu suchen, wie bei der Alkoholkardiomyopathie, wo myokardialer Magnesiummangel zumindest als pathogenetischer Teilfaktor anerkannt wird. Andererseits versucht man aber auch Beziehungen zwischen Atherosklerose, Blutgerinnung und Hypomagnesämie herzustellen, in der Meinung, daß Magnesiummangel auch über den coronaren Pathomechanismus des Herzinfarktes wirken könnte. Sicher scheint, daß gewisse EKG-Veränderungen und Herzrhythmusstörungen durch einen irritierten Magnesiumhaushalt bedingt sein können, da sie bei Gabe bzw. Entzug von Magnesium verschwinden. Daß Magnesiummangel die Glykosidtoleranz verringert, wird tierexperimentell bestätigt. Unter Hypomagnesämie bewirkt Acetylstrophanthidin eher und länger Rhythmusstörungen als ohne, außerdem lassen diese sich durch Magnesiumgaben eliminieren. Da in gewissen Fällen spontane und digitalisinduzierte Herzrythmusstörungen durch Magnesiuminjektionen beseitigt wurden, scheint Magnesium als Therapeuticum angebracht. Einsatz verschiedener Magnesiumsalze bei Angina pectoris, degenerativen Herzerkrankungen und Herzinsuffizienz ohne geprüften und offensichtlich gestörten Magnesiumhaushalt ist fragwürdig, weil keine eindeutigen klinischen Erfolgsbeweise vorliegen. Immerhin mag es aber larvierte, durch Serumbestimmungen nicht erfaßbare Mangelzustände geben. Allgemein erscheint es aus kardiologischer Sicht ratsam, den Magnesiumhaushalt zu überwachen und in entsprechenden Fällen auszugleichen, um möglichen Myokardläsionen oder fatalen Herzrhythmusstörungen entgegenzuwirken.     

Environmental risk factors and their role in the management of atopic dermatitis

Introduction: The etiology of atopic dermatitis (AD) is multifactorial with interaction between genetics, immune and environmental factors.

Areas covered: We review the role of prenatal exposures, irritants and pruritogens, pathogens, climate factors, including temperature, humidity, ultraviolet radiation, outdoor and indoor air pollutants, tobacco smoke exposure, water hardness, urban vs. rural living, diet, breastfeeding, probiotics and prebiotics on AD.

Expert commentary: The increased global prevalence of AD cannot be attributed to genetics alone, suggesting that evolving environmental exposures may trigger and/or flare disease in predisposed individuals. There is a complex interplay between different environmental factors, including individual use of personal care products and exposure to climate, pollution, food and other exogenous factors. Understanding these complex risk factors is crucial to developing targeted interventions to prevent the disease in millions. Moreover, patients require counseling on optimal regimens for minimization of exposure to irritants and pruritogens and other harmful exposures.     

Class II HLA in Georgia Caucasus Tbilisi Georgians and their Mediterranean ancestry: The Usko Mediterranean languages

Georgia (or Sakartvelo in its own language) is a South Caucasus Mts. country with its easternmost part is enigmatically named Iberia, like the Iberian Peninsula, which may refer to rivers “Kura” and “Ebro” or their valleys respectively. Most of their inhabitants speak Georgian which is included within Dene-Caucasian group and Usko-Mediterranean subgroup of languages. The latter includes Basque, Berber, ancient Iberian-Tartessian, Etruscan, Hittite, Minoan Lineal A and others. In the present paper, HLA class II -DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles has been studied and extended haplotypes calculated. Most frequent haplotypes are also of Mediterranean origin (i. e.: (A*02-B*51)-DRB1*11:01-DQB1*03:01, (A*02-B*51)-DRB1*13:01-DQB1*06:03, or (A*24-B*35)-DRB1*01:01-DQB1*05:01) and DA genetic distances show that closest world populations to Georgians are Mediterraneans. Georgians also show common extended haplotypes ((A*02-B*51)-DRB1*11:01-DQB1*03:01, (A*02-B*13)-DRB1*07:01-DQB1*02:01 and (A*03-B*35)-DRB1*11:01-DQB1*03:01) with Svan people, a secluded population in North Georgia mountains. We can conclude that Georgians belong to a very old Mediterranean substratum according to both linguistics (Usko Mediterranean languages) and HLA genetics.     

'Very sore nights and days': the child's experience of illness in early modern England, c.1580-1720

Sick children were ubiquitous in early modern England, and yet they have received very little attention from historians. Taking the elusive perspective of the child, this article explores the physical, emotional, and spiritual experience of illness in England between approximately 1580 and 1720. What was it like being ill and suffering pain? How did the young respond emotionally to the anticipation of death? It is argued that children’s experiences were characterised by profound ambivalence: illness could be terrifying and distressing, but also a source of emotional and spiritual fulfilment and joy. This interpretation challenges the common assumption amongst medical historians that the experiences of early modern patients were utterly miserable. It also sheds light on children’s emotional feelings for their parents, a subject often overlooked in the historiography of childhood. The primary sources used in this article include diaries, autobiographies, letters, the biographies of pious children, printed possession cases, doctors’ casebooks, and theological treatises concerning the afterlife.