Organic Psychosyndromes due to Boxing

The “punch-drunk” syndrome of boxers was recognized by lay people many years before it received attention from the medical profession. The syndrome included slurred speech, ataxic gait and impaired mental function and so simulated alcoholic intoxication. Martland (1928) gave the first clinical description of its neurological and psychiatric features. These consisted of cerebellar, striatal and pyramidal signs in varying combination together with dementia and sometimes episodic psychotic behaviour. Martland stressed the psychiatric features of the syndrome, and noted that of 23 punch drunk boxers known to him, four were permanently in mental hospitals.