Camptocormia, or the Functional Bent Back

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Abstract
Short case histories are given of 4 men in military service suffering from camptocormia or functional bent back. The onset of the disorder is not necessarily precipitated by physical trauma. In all cases, the patients are free of organic disease although the back may be rigidly flexed at an angle of from 30 to 70[degree]. Although receiving intensive psychotherapy, only one patient in a series of 19 studied in an army camp became well enough to return to active duty. However, while being processed for discharge, most of the patients straightened their backs and lost practically all their symptoms within a week. The authors conclude that "no amount of skilled and concentrated psychotherapy was of any avail as long as these men were faced with present or remote danger to themselves.'''' The personality characteristics found, to be common to the camptocormia patients studied were: disinterest in sex accompanied by a marked degree of impotence, a strongly dependent and ambivalent attitude toward the father, and negative feelings in regard to the mother.

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