The mysterious illness of dyce sombre - PubMed
The mysterious illness of dyce sombre
Ronald Pies et al. Innov Clin Neurosci. 2012 Mar.
Abstract
The alleged "madness" of the Anglo-Indian prince known as Dyce Sombre (1808-1851) has been attributed to anti-Asian prejudice, biased observations, and insensitivity to ethno-cultural variations in behavior. However, whereas all these factors may have contributed to misdiagnosis and mistreatment, there is compelling evidence pointing to an "organic" explanation for Dyce Sombre's aberrant behavior. We posit that the interaction of drug toxicity and possible central nervous system infection were primarily responsible for Dyce Sombre's clinical symptoms. The case provides an important lesson for modern-day psychiatrists confronting patients from other cultures who may also have underlying neuropsychiatric disorders.
Keywords: Dyce Sombre; betel nut; cultural sensitivity; organic factors in psychiatric illness; stigma of psychiatric diagnoses.
Figures
The Areca nut (pictured right) is the seed of the Areca palm (Areca catechu) (pictured above), which grows in much of the tropical Pacific, Asia, and parts of east Africa. The nuts are commonly referred to as “betel nuts,” as they are often chewed wrapped in betel leaves, a vine belonging to the Piperaceae family, which includes pepper and Kava.
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