Some descriptions of schizophrenia-like illness in the German literature of the early nineteenth century

Journal/Book: Hist Psychiat. 1996; 7: Halfpenny Furze-Mill Lane, Chalfont St Giles, Bucks, United Kingdom HP8 4NR. Alpha Academic. 31-54.

Abstract: The situation of German psychiatry in the early nineteenth century is of interest as the specialty was developing in a society which was still largely nonindustrial. Examination of the literature of the time allows, therefore, a testing of hypotheses concerning schizophrenia as a disease of industrial society. This study presents a number of descriptions of illness resembling schizophrenia derived from textbooks on mental illness and psychiatric journals fr om the period 1790-1830, as well as a fictional account in a novella by Georg Buchner dating from 1835. These descriptions suggest that schizophrenia did occur not uncommonly in pre-industrial Germany, and that the most detailed descriptions tended to come from non-specialist sources. The implications of this for the non-recognition of schizophrenia before Kraepelin's account of 1896 are discussed.

Note: Article J Crighton, Apartment 1, 24 North Ave, Leicester LE2 1TL, Leics, England

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