Disinhibitory psychopathology: a new perspective and a model for research.

The syndrome produced by lesion of the septum in animals can serve as a functional research model of human disinhibitory psychopathology. Disinhibitory psychopathology appears to span several traditionally separate psychological categories—psychopathy, hysteria, hyperactivity, antisocial and impulsive personality, and alcoholism. It is proposed that these categories are separate manifestations of the same genetic diathesis and that the "septal syndrome" may constitute a valid model of behavioral aspects of this diathesis. A program of experimentation utilizing this animal model is outlined.