Do you ever think of a symptom, but it doesn’t show up in the repertory? Today’s repertories and software are often based on Kent’s Repertory, so it’s helpful to know how to translate some of the words. Below are suggestions for finding the proper rubrics. Another problem
Do you ever think of a symptom, but it doesn’t show up in the repertory? Today’s repertories and software are often based on Kent’s Repertory, so it’s helpful to know how to translate some of the words. Below are suggestions for finding the proper rubrics. Another problem is translating the patient’s statements into rubrics. It can feel overwhelming at first, when faced with an onslaught of words and emotions. Don’t despair! This is just a learned skill, and below are exercises for that as well. Good case taking!
1. Think of synonyms or older words which have the same meaning. For instance, if your patient is “Bossy”, try “Dictatorial”. If he is “Critical”, consider “Censorious”, or “Reproaches others”.
2. Ask yourself, “What behaviors does that word represent?” “Agoraphobia” is found in Kent under “Going out, aversion to”, “Fear – out of doors”, “Fear, crowd, in a”.
3. If the symptom describes unusual thoughts, look under “Delusions.”
A woman thinks everyone is watching her – Delusion: Looking at her, that everyone is.
4. If the symptom is a few words, try looking up each word. “Fear that something terrible will happen,” is found in the Delusions section as: “Happen, something terrible will”. If a person lacks will power to undertake anything, this is found as “Undertakes - lacks will power to undertake anything.”
Here are some symptoms in ordinary language and then the words used in Kent’s repertory.
| Ordinary language | Repertory Language |
| Indecisive | Irresolute |
| Adventurous | Audacity, Courageous, Rashness etc. |
| Guilt | Remorse, Reproaches himself, Anger-mistakes-own, Anxiety, conscience of, Delirium- blames himself, delusion- crime as if he committed etc. |
| Apathy | Indifference, Ennui, Amusement-averse, Heedless |
| Regret | Remorse, Anguish, Anger-mistakes own, Anxiety -conscience, Reproaches himself, etc. |
| Greed | Avarice, Desires -more than she needs, Envy, Selfishness |
| Bad tempered | Irritability, Contrary, Unfriendly, Unfriendly-humor |
| Domineering | Dictatorial, Reproaches others, Censorious |
| Condescending | Haughty, Contemptuous, Delusion- better than others. |
| Boredom | Ennui, under Generals see- Lassitude) |
| Critical, Blames others | Censorious, Reproaches others, faultfinding, Conscientious about trifles, haughty. |
| Resentment | Anger with indignation, Brooding, Dwells on past events, etc. |
| Dedicated | Pertinacity (holding to an opinion), Defiant, Courageous etc |
| Pessimistic | Discouraged, Delusions- everything will fail, succeed cannot. Fears- undertaking anything, Helplessness- feeling of, Undertakes- lacks will power to undertake anything. |
| Easy going | Tranquility, Mildness, Quiet disposition. |
| Argumentative | Quarrelsome, Contradict- disposition to, Contrary, Fight – wants to, anger |
| Creative | Concentration – active, Ideas-abundant, Plans, Theorizing, Thoughts – profound |
| Critical of self | Reproaches self, Anger- mistakes over his, Contemptuous, of self, Delirium-blames himself, Discontented- himself with |
| Feels criticized | Sensitive-over sensitive, Despair from smallest criticism, Admonition aggravates. Delusion: accused, thinks she is; insulted he is; looked down upon; imagines he is laughed at, etc |
| Compassionate | Sympathetic, Benevolence, Affectionate, Anxiety for others. |
| Stealing | Kleptomania |
| Introverted | Company- averse to, Talk- indisposed to, Bashful, Reserved, Quiet disposition, Amelioration when alone, Secretive, Timidity. |
| Extroverted | Company- desire for , Cheerful in company, Alone while, aggravates, etc. |
| Spontaneous | Impetuous, Impulsive, Quick to act. |
| Plans everything | Carefulness, Cautious, Fastidious. |
| Emotional | Excitement, Exhilaration, High spirited, Irritability When excited. |
| Hard working | Industrious, Activity -desires, Busy, Occupation ameliorates, Exertion ameliorates, Work -desires, Irritability- idle while. |
| Sense of justice or fairness | Weeping- sympathy for others, anxiety – others for, Sensitive- over sensitive- cruelties hearing of, Sensitive to moral impressions, discontented, Sympathetic. |
| Inconsistent | Inconstancy, Undertakes many things, Persists in nothing, Mood-changeable, Capricious. |
| Lazy | Indolence, Exertion- aggravation from mental, Fear-Work, Loathing work - Time- fritters away his , Work- aversion to mental, Business- averse to. (Under Generals see -Exertion- physical aggravates. ) |
| Stubborn | Obstinate, Contrary, Pertinacity, etc. |
| Obsessional | Thoughts-persistent, same idea repeated, See also Anxiety, Fears, etc. |
| Optimistic | Cheerful, Hopeful, etc. |
| Perfectionism | Anger- mistakes-his own, Reproaches himself, Rest-cannot when things aren’t in place, Anxiety of conscience, Delusions: Right-does nothing, Thinks he has done wrong, deserves reproach, neglected his duty, etc. |
| Lies | Lies, Deceitful, Untruthful, Slander- disposition to. |
| Pessimism | Discouraged, Helplessness, Lamenting, Undertakes- lacks will power to undertake anything, Wrong-everything seems, Delusion: fail- everything will, succeed cannot-does everything wrong, Fears undertaking anything, |
| Sloppy | Indifference-personal appearance to |
| Premonition | Clairvoyance, Prophesying, Death- presentiment of, Fear- that something will happen, Sleep: Dreams- clairvoyant, events not taken place, prophetic, visionary. Delusion: Happen-something terrible will. |
| Fear of Responsibility | Anxiety- anything expected of him, Fears- undertaking anything, Timidity, Cowardice, etc |
| Responsible | Conscientious -about trifles, Industrious, Sensitive to moral impressions, etc. |
| Conflicted/Ambivalent | Antagonism with herself, Thoughts- two trains of, Irresolution, Will- pulled in two directions, Undertakes things opposed, Confusion- identity. |
| Talkative | Loquacious, Talk- wants to, Gossiping, Reveals secrets, Speech- babbling, Delirium- changing subjects rapidly, Delirium loquacious. |
| Vanity | Egotism, Haughty, Affectation, Aloof, Flattery- desires, Contemptuous, Deeds-feels as if he could do great, etc. |
| Mentally foggy | Stupefaction, Dullness, Prostration of mind, Torpor, Unobserving, Concentration difficult, Thoughts- wandering, Memory- weakness. |
| Megalomania | Power- love of, Egotism, Contradiction- intolerant of, etc. |
| Humiliation | Mortification, Embarrassed, Reproach- ailments from, Chagrin, Indignation, Honour- effects of wounded. |
| Fantasies | See under “Delusions” |
| Excessive tidiness | Fastidious, Conscientious about trifles, Rest-cannot when things are not in place, Washing- always washing her hands, Delusions: Contaminates everything, feels dirty, (Under Generalities see “Uncleanliness aggravates”). |
| Abandoned | Forsaken, Estranged, (See also various Delusions: eg. Affection of friends-has lost, deserted feels, friendless he is, etc. |
| Tendency to drink alcohol | Dipsomania, (also under Stomach: Desires -alcohol) |
| Delirium Tremens | Mania a potu |
| Rebellious | Contrary, Defiant, Obstinate, Pertinacity |
| Head in the clouds - | Absorbed- buried in thought, Abstraction, Theorizing, Absent minded, Thoughts-thoughtful, Fancies- absorbed in etc. |
| Hypochondriac | Anxiety -health- hypochondriacal, Despair-health of recovery, Doubtful -recovery, Delusions : disease-has every, feels he has ruined, sickness-imagined. |
| Dependent | Helplessness, feeling of |
| Over talkative | Loquacious/ Talking- pleasure in his own |
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Alan V. Schmukler
