Ethological aspects of psychiatry.

Studies of non-verbal behaviour with respect to mentally ill patients is a relatively neglected aspect of psychiatry. Probably the main reason for this has been the lack of relevant methods. In recent years ethological techniques have emerged enabling the facial expressions, body postures and gestures of animals and humans to be objectively measured so that the functional importance is laid open for analysis. This article discusses the way ethological ideas and techniques can contribute to an understanding of the behaviour of the mentally ill. Examples are drawn from studies of flight behaviour which encompass those behavioural strategies associated with withdrawal or avoidance of a source of danger or harm. It is argued that much of the non-verbal behaviour in psychotic patients reflects blocked escape and that this is one of the reasons why such individuals are socially withdrawn. The application of ethology to the psychiatric assessment of patients is also demonstrated on the basis of ethological profiles from some selected patients. It is concluded that psychiatrists and ethologists should cooperate in the future evaluation of therapeutic measures including new drugs developed on the basis of ethological tests.