In 1834, F. Leuret made an essential contribution to the psychopathology of
psychosis. He defined two clear-cut clinical conditions. The first he name
d "incoherents"; here we find a radical breakdown in the production of mean
ing ascribed by Leuret to a lack of force in associations. We also find cle
ar descriptions of neologisms as if Leuret had intuitively grasped the idea
that certain psychotic patients experience themselves as masters of langua
ge masters that is not subjected to... Today we would perhaps refer to the
incoherents as paranoid or poorly structured delusions. The "arrangers" pro
duce clear and organised delusional systems without neologisms, barrages, f
ading or dissociation. The authors conclude by arguing that the concept of
dissociation should only be used in cases of psychotic suffering when the l
ack of an 'I' can clearly be demonstrated. It should not be used to refer t
o hysterical delusions. (C) 2000 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevi
er SAS.