FOREWORD My first encounter with psychiatry was in the spring of 1964, when our class visited the home for women with mental disorders - above Asenovgrad. I remember that by the old courtyard fountain with an arch above, a sick woman came up to me, took my hands and started talking to me. I don't remember anything about the story, but then I looked up and said to myself: "Lord, if I write medicine, I will treat these sick people."

When I became a student, Prof. Jaldetti's exceptional lectures on medical psychology, the hypnotic sessions I conducted on patients under the guidance of Prof. Yonchev, and the profound and unforgettable lectures on psychiatry by Prof. Tashev made me fall in love with psychiatry and psychology forever. Since 2000, I have been a part-time teacher of psychopathology at the Polytechnic "P. Hilendarski", for which I am very grateful to Prof. Stamatov. Inquisitive psychology students motivated me and directed me to various interesting topics for thought, which led me to delve deeper into the field of psychology.

My love for patients with psychiatric disorders and psychological problems did not cease. So, I can confidently say that after more than half a century of my acquaintance with psychopathology, I have become convinced that psychology and psychiatry are special sciences, and whoever has touched them has never remained indifferent. No one accidentally majored in psychology and devoted himself to psychiatry. Psychiatry and psychology go hand in hand and can be found in any clinical discipline. But unlike their patients, psychiatric cases are different and unique. Each case is specific and special for itself from a psychological and psychiatric point of view. Case studies are imprinted in our minds with their identity and uniqueness.

When I became head of the department, I decided that it would be unfair not to describe them, not only because they are more real than the characters of the greatest novelists and short story writers, but also because they would be easier for specialists to navigate and quickly for the correct diagnosis and to apply adequate drug and psychotherapeutic therapy. I sent 400 letters to all psychiatric centers in our country, but unfortunately few of the colleagues responded to my message and will take a number of unique and undescribed cases with them.

Thanks to those who responded to my invitation. I also thank all psychology students from PU "P. Hilendarski", Plovdiv, which motivated me to search and familiarize myself with various theoretical concepts in psychology. Some of them wrote great essays with case studies that I have included in the book. The book will initially be released in two parts. The first part examines some historical data, norm and abnormality in psychopathology, nosology and classification of psychiatric disorders, affective and schizophrenic disorders. Among the books thrown into the black sacks when the office was broken into, Prof. Cholakov's original scheme was found, for a detailed and brief neurological and psychiatric status, which is presented in the original.

The goal is for those who follow him to become familiar with his deep knowledge in the field of neurology and psychiatry. In the second part, which is to be released in the fall, the problems of neurotic disorders, child psychopathology, autism, addictions, sexological and forensic psychiatric cases, the place of hypnotherapy in psychiatric and psychological practice, problems related to therapy are discussed. A special place is devoted to "Syndromes rare in psychopathology", which are more than 113 described in more than 200 pages. In this two-volume edition of over 1000 pages, 80 authors participated, including not only young specialists and doctoral students in psychiatry, but also psychology students from PU "P. Hilendarski" - Plovdiv.
I will end with the words of Prof. Tashev: "He who has married psychiatry has never given it up."
Prof. Dr. N. Madjirova, MD, PhD