MovieChat Forums > Persona (1967) Discussion > A diagnostic test for hysteria?

A diagnostic test for hysteria?

posted 8 years ago by disinterested_spectator
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Early in the movie, the nurse is told that Mrs. Vogler has been given every conceivable test, and it is clear that there is nothing wrong with her mentally or physically, that it is not an hysterical reaction. My goodness! I didn't know there was a diagnostic test that could rule out hysteria. Did her blood work come back negative for a psychosomatic condition? I wonder how a psychiatrist could rule out psychosis in a patient who refuses to answer any questions?

So what is the point of asserting the existence of tests that can absolutely rule out such mental aberrations, when we all know that even today there are no such tests? Why, to force us to conclude that her condition is existential and thus a worthy subject for treatment in another weird film by Bergman.

It doesn't get any more artificial than this.

[–] kenny-164 8 years ago

The OP's is a ridiculous criticism. OF COURSE there would be tests of her physical condition that can find indicators of hysteria, such as elevated blood pressure coupled with certain behaviors. There is no reference to a single test as the OP's heading posits. How silly.

Clearly the doctor is saying that having conducted "all sorts of tests" and observing her for 3 months that Mrs. Vogler appears physically healthy. as for the mental part, in fact there are means of observation that coupled with tests would allow a trained physician to determine overall mental health.

The OP also clearly implies that Bergman had to "force us" to consider someone as having an existential crisis. As if those do not happen in the real world???

What nonsense.