Bénédict Morel
Encyclopedia
Bénédict Augustin Morel was a French physician born in Vienna
, Austria. He was an influential figure in the field of psychiatry
during the mid-19th century.
He received his education in Paris
, and while a student, supplemented his income by teaching English and German classes. In 1839 he earned his medical doctorate, and two years later became an assistant to psychiatrist Jean-Pierre Falret
(1794–1870) at the Salpêtrière in Paris
.
Morel's interest in psychiatry was further enhanced in the mid-1840s when he visited several mental institutions throughout Europe. In 1848 he was appointed director of the Asile d'Aliénés de Maréville at Nancy. Here he introduced reforms concerning the welfare of the mentally ill, in particular liberalization of restraining practices. At the Maréville asylum he studied the mentally handicapped, researching their family histories and investigating aspects such as poverty and childhood physical illnesses. In 1856 he was appointed director of the mental asylum at Saint-Yon in Rouen
.
Morel, influenced by various pre-Darwinian theories of evolution—particularly those that attributed a powerful role to acclimation—saw mental deficiency as the end stage of a process of mental deterioration. In the 1850s, Morel developed a theory of "degeneration" regarding mental problems that take place from early life to adulthood. In 1857 he published Traité des dégénérescences physiques, intellectuelles et morales de l'espèce humaine et des causes qui produisent ces variétés maladives, in which he explains the nature, causes, and indications of human degeneration. Morel looked for answers to mental illness in heredity
, although later on he believed that alcohol and drug usage could also be important factors in the course of mental decline.
Morel coined the term démence precoce (Latin- dementia praecox
) in 1860, to describe what he thought was a mental disorder that initially struck males when they were teens or young adults, and eventually led to deterioration of mental functioning and disability. Later, it became apparent that démence precoce didn't necessarily lead to mental deterioration, nor did it affect only youth—and in 1908 Swiss psychologist Eugen Bleuler
coined the term "schizophrenia
" as a more accurate definition of the disorder.
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, Austria. He was an influential figure in the field of psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
during the mid-19th century.
He received his education in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and while a student, supplemented his income by teaching English and German classes. In 1839 he earned his medical doctorate, and two years later became an assistant to psychiatrist Jean-Pierre Falret
Jean-Pierre Falret
Jean-Pierre Falret was a French psychiatrist born in Marseille.In 1811 he began his medical studies in Paris, where he was inspired by the work of Philippe Pinel and Jean Étienne Dominique Esquirol...
(1794–1870) at the Salpêtrière in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Morel's interest in psychiatry was further enhanced in the mid-1840s when he visited several mental institutions throughout Europe. In 1848 he was appointed director of the Asile d'Aliénés de Maréville at Nancy. Here he introduced reforms concerning the welfare of the mentally ill, in particular liberalization of restraining practices. At the Maréville asylum he studied the mentally handicapped, researching their family histories and investigating aspects such as poverty and childhood physical illnesses. In 1856 he was appointed director of the mental asylum at Saint-Yon in Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
.
Morel, influenced by various pre-Darwinian theories of evolution—particularly those that attributed a powerful role to acclimation—saw mental deficiency as the end stage of a process of mental deterioration. In the 1850s, Morel developed a theory of "degeneration" regarding mental problems that take place from early life to adulthood. In 1857 he published Traité des dégénérescences physiques, intellectuelles et morales de l'espèce humaine et des causes qui produisent ces variétés maladives, in which he explains the nature, causes, and indications of human degeneration. Morel looked for answers to mental illness in heredity
Heredity
Heredity is the passing of traits to offspring . This is the process by which an offspring cell or organism acquires or becomes predisposed to the characteristics of its parent cell or organism. Through heredity, variations exhibited by individuals can accumulate and cause some species to evolve...
, although later on he believed that alcohol and drug usage could also be important factors in the course of mental decline.
Morel coined the term démence precoce (Latin- dementia praecox
Dementia praecox
Dementia praecox refers to a chronic, deteriorating psychotic disorder characterized by rapid cognitive disintegration, usually beginning in the late teens or early adulthood. It is a term first used in 1891 in this Latin form by Arnold Pick , a professor of psychiatry at the German branch of...
) in 1860, to describe what he thought was a mental disorder that initially struck males when they were teens or young adults, and eventually led to deterioration of mental functioning and disability. Later, it became apparent that démence precoce didn't necessarily lead to mental deterioration, nor did it affect only youth—and in 1908 Swiss psychologist Eugen Bleuler
Eugen Bleuler
Paul Eugen Bleuler was a Swiss psychiatrist most notable for his contributions to the understanding of mental illness and for coining the term "schizophrenia."-Biography:...
coined the term "schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
" as a more accurate definition of the disorder.
Partial bibliography
- Traité des maladies mentales. 2 volumes; Paris, 1852–1853; 2nd edition, 1860. (In the 2nd edition he coined the term démence-precoce to refer to mental degeneration.)
- Le no-restraint ou de l’abolition des moyens coercitifs dans le traitement de la folie. Paris, 1861
- Du goître et du crétinisme, étiologie, prophylaxie etc. Paris, 1864
- De la formation des types dans les variétés dégénérées. Volume 1; Rouen, 1864
External Source
- Bénédict Augustin Morel @ Who Named ItWho Named ItWho Named It? is an English-language dictionary of medical eponyms and the people associated with their identification. Though this is a dictionary, many eponyms and persons are presented in extensive articles with comprehensive bibliographies. It is hosted in Norway and maintained by medical...