Symptoms of psychopathology. Identification and interpretation

Abstract

Introduction. Updating psychopathology is currently viewed as being dependent on a readjustment that fits the ever increasing knowledge of cerebral physiopathology. Nevertheless, this recalibration cannot elude the apories of a medical semiology based upon the identification of correlates and injury as the reference of symptoms. Experience is proposed as the true field of psychopathological research, the totality concept being one of them.

Material and methods. The publications of those authors who have dealt with the concept of totality are reviewed in addition to the basis of each approach and its ties with each author’s contribution to psychopathology.

Results and discussion. We observe that the totality concept has been subjected to determinant procedures that are not capable of abiding to the demand of totality as a structure of experience.

Conclusions. Meaningful relationships between totality and symptoms are considered as a possible alternative to positivism-oriented processes of identification.