Antonio D’Ormea (1873–1952) and encephalitis lethargica: the Italian psychiatrist who drew attention to childhood aspects of the disease

Antonio D’Ormea (1873–1952) served as physician and director of the San Niccolò psychiatric hospital in Siena for more than four decades. Guided by deeply held professional and human values, he devoted his career to transforming the institution into a modern scientific center, where clinical practice was integrated with continuous research and mental health was understood as fundamental to individual and social well‑being.

A pioneer in the education and care of children and adolescents with intellectual disabilities, D’Ormea developed an innovative medico‑psycho‑pedagogical model grounded in the belief that rehabilitation was possible, even when outcomes varied. His work anticipated later developments in child neuropsychiatry and special education.

This historical article reconstructs D’Ormea’s professional trajectory, emphasizing his contributions to early 20th‑century psychiatry and, in particular, to the care of minors. Special attention is devoted to his clinical and institutional response to childhood encephalitis lethargica, including the admission and treatment of affected children within the Medical Psycho‑Pedagogical Institute he founded in Siena.