Psychiatric changes associated with Friedreich's ataxia.

The occurrence of mental changes in association with FrIedreich's ataxia has received sporadic notice from time to time. Saquet (1919) reviewed the literature on this subject.. Further contributions from the neuro-pathological standpoint came from Trelles (1934), whilst the genetics of this association received comment from de Smet and others (1937). Sjogren (1943) and Davies (1949) have discussed.the occurrence of dementia in Friedreich's ataxia, whilst Bleuler and Walder (1946) have attempted to clarify Bleuler's concept of "the psycho-organic syndrome" by reference to the peculiar " Friedreich psychosis " which has been described by several authors, among whom we may note Klein (1937). The aim of tho present study is to describe some cases of mental change associated with Friedreich's ataxia, and to draw attention to certain clinical features of these cases, in an attempt to advance our knowledge of these curious states.