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. 2008 Dec;118(6):499-502.
doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0447.2008.01269.x. Epub 2008 Sep 17.

Ludwig II, King of Bavaria: a royal medical history

H Förstl  1 , G Immler, M Seitz, R Hacker
Affiliations

Ludwig II, King of Bavaria: a royal medical history

H Förstl et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2008 Dec.

Abstract

Objective: The case of Ludwig II, King of Bavaria, had soon become synonymous with paranoia, after he had drowned at the age of 40 together with the neuropsychiatrist Gudden.

Method: We were granted access to the Secret Archive of the House of Wittelsbach to study documents on Ludwig's medical history.

Results: The documents underlying Gudden's expert opinion which led to Ludwig being deposed would be insufficient for a diagnosis of schizophrenia according to contemporary standards. The autopsy revealed prominent prefrontal brain atrophy.

Conclusion: The evidence is compatible with a diagnosis of schizotypal personality and suspected frontotemporal degeneration.

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