The Concept of Schizophrenia

From the effort of an international group of historical researchers - Italian, German, Canadian, American and British - this book draws conclusions of importance to contemporary psychiatry, both in research and practice. "The Concept of Schizophrenia - Historical Perspectives" is divided into two areas of research. In the first, the concept of schizophrenia is traced from the classical period up to the present. An additional related chapter describes the history of the concept of childhood schizophrenia. The reader will learn whether the condition that we term schizophrenia today existed in former times. Views held on etiology, nosology, symptomatology and treatment are discussed. Of special interest are clinical and research insights over a time span of approximately 4000 years. The second area of research explores the history of the psychodynamics of schizophrenia as to its possible etiology in adult or family psychopathology. A brief chapter in this section also considers the attempts at psychotherapy of the condition by a distinguished group of early psychotherapists.
The authors question whether there is a psychodynamics of schizophrenia and discuss the insights that sping from this field of inquiry. Presenting material on the concept of schizophrenia this work shows how historical research can be of value to contemporary clinical practice.