1714-1766

Scottish physiologist who was among the first to describe several mental afflictions and to suggest causes and cures for them. Whytt worked primarily with neurotic patients, categorizing them into hysteric, hypochondriacal, and those suffering from what he termed "nervous exhaustion." Although he attempted to develop a theory for these by discussing different aspects of the nerves (for example, he assumed women's nerves were more "motile" than men's), many of his theories were inaccurate.