Involutional Melancholia

Several months ago a preliminary report 1 was made on the treatment of patients with involutional melancholia by the intramuscular administration of theelin. 2 The theory on which this treatment was based was given in the original article and consists briefly of the idea that so-called involutional melancholia is only an extreme manifestation of the symptomatology of the menopause. Great numbers of women complain during the menopause of depression, crying and decreased memory and ability for mental concentration, accompanied with mild degrees of psychosis. When these symptoms in particular (there are others at the menopause) become exaggerated, the diagnosis of involutional melancholia is made. MENOPAUSE The term menopause, literally meaning cessation of menstrual flow, is commonly used to designate that critical period in a woman's life more correctly spoken of as the climacteric. Menstrual pause may occur at any time during the menacme from various causes. The menopause is more