Jules Angst – författare

One hundred years ago - in 1899 - Emil Kraepelin, Professor of Psychiatry in Heidelberg and later in Munich - created, in two very important pieces of work, the concept of "manisch-depressives Irresein" ("manic-depressive insanity"). The first was entitled Die klinische Stellung der Melancholie(The Clinical Position of Melancholia), and the second publication was the sixth edition of his textbook. In the same year Kraepelin's pupil and colleague, Wilhelm Weygandt, published his book Uber die Mischzustande des Manisch- Depressiven Irreseins (On the Mixed States of Manic-Depressive Insanity). A century after Kraepelin's creation of "manic-depressive insanity", we celebrate. Is this really appropriate? We believe it is firmly established that the "folie circulaire" of Jean-Pierre Falret or the "folie a double forme" of Jules Baillarger differs from recurrent depression, which is also different from Kraepelin's "manic-depressive insanity". Yet the answer to the question of xvi Preface whether it is appropriate to celebrate is clear: Yes. This not only because the work of Emil Kraepelin is fundamental in the true sense of the word.There can be no doubt that Emil Kraepelin is the most important founder of modern psychiatry. Just one of the many reasons for this opinion is his enormous contribution to the definition, description and diagnosis of affective disorders.

This study appears at a time when a decisive turn is due in the research on personality development. After many years of stagna­ tion and misguided research in this field, this book should lead to a thorough revision and a better understanding of current views on the factors which have an influence on personality. Let us consider the unsatisfactory aspects of the recent develop­ ments in personality studies. At the beginning of this century, the revolutionary insight gained ground that personality is susceptible to various influences, in particular to those resulting from human interaction. This insight swept away many of the old scholastic concepts and gained special importance in the fields of pedagogics and psychotherapy. How­ ever, in the wake of every great discovery we find inherent dangers. For years, various claims and creeds on the malleability of personality have been put forward as if they were proven facts. Lay literature, too, was permeated with wrong and distorted information on factors which might endanger child development.

This study appears at a time when a decisive turn is due in the research on personality development. After many years of stagna­ tion and misguided research in this field, this book should lead to a thorough revision and a better understanding of current views on the factors which have an influence on personality. Let us consider the unsatisfactory aspects of the recent develop­ ments in personality studies. At the beginning of this century, the revolutionary insight gained ground that personality is susceptible to various influences, in particular to those resulting from human interaction. This insight swept away many of the old scholastic concepts and gained special importance in the fields of pedagogics and psychotherapy. How­ ever, in the wake of every great discovery we find inherent dangers. For years, various claims and creeds on the malleability of personality have been put forward as if they were proven facts. Lay literature, too, was permeated with wrong and distorted information on factors which might endanger child development.

One hundred years ago - in 1899 - Emil Kraepelin, Professor of Psychiatry in Heidelberg and later in Munich - created, in two very important pieces of work, the concept of "manisch-depressives Irresein" ("manic-depressive insanity"). The first was entitled Die klinische Stellung der Melancholie(The Clinical Position of Melancholia), and the second publication was the sixth edition of his textbook. In the same year Kraepelin's pupil and colleague, Wilhelm Weygandt, published his book Uber die Mischzustande des Manisch- Depressiven Irreseins (On the Mixed States of Manic-Depressive Insanity). A century after Kraepelin's creation of "manic-depressive insanity", we celebrate. Is this really appropriate? We believe it is firmly established that the "folie circulaire" of Jean-Pierre Falret or the "folie a double forme" of Jules Baillarger differs from recurrent depression, which is also different from Kraepelin's "manic-depressive insanity". Yet the answer to the question of xvi Preface whether it is appropriate to celebrate is clear: Yes. This not only because the work of Emil Kraepelin is fundamental in the true sense of the word.There can be no doubt that Emil Kraepelin is the most important founder of modern psychiatry. Just one of the many reasons for this opinion is his enormous contribution to the definition, description and diagnosis of affective disorders.