Kurt Schneider
Encyclopedia
Kurt Schneider was a German
psychiatrist
known largely for his writing on the diagnosis
and understanding of schizophrenia
.
, Kingdom of Württemberg
, and trained in medicine
in Berlin
and Tübingen. He was drafted for military service in World War I
and later obtained a postgraduate qualification in psychiatry
. In 1931 he became director of the Psychiatric Research Institute in Munich
, which was previously founded by Emil Kraepelin
.
Disgusted by the developing tide of psychiatric eugenics
championed by the Nazi Party, Schneider left the institute and served as an army doctor during World War II
. After the war, anti-Nazi academics were appointed to serve in, and rebuild Germany's medical institutions and Schneider was given the post of Dean of the Medical School at Heidelberg University. Schneider kept this post until his retirement in 1955.
, he particularly championed diagnoses based on the form, rather than the content of a sign or symptom. For example, he argued that a delusion
should not be diagnosed by the content of the belief, but by the way in which a belief is held.
He coined the terms endogenous depression, derived from Emil Kraepelin's use of the adjective for biological in origin, and reactive depression, more usually seen in outpatients, in 1920.
from other forms of psychosis, by listing the psychotic symptoms that are particularly characteristic of schizophrenia. These have become known as Schneiderian First-Rank Symptoms or simply, first-rank symptoms.
These were:
The reliability of using first-rank symptoms for the diagnosis of schizophrenia has since been questioned, although the terms might still be used descriptively by mental health professionals who do not use them as diagnostic aids.
A memory device that is frequently used to remember the first rank symptoms
is ABCD: Auditory hallucinations, Broadcasting of thought, Controlled thought (delusions of control), Delusional perception.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
known largely for his writing on the diagnosis
Medical diagnosis
Medical diagnosis refers both to the process of attempting to determine or identify a possible disease or disorder , and to the opinion reached by this process...
and understanding of 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...
.
Biography
Schneider was born in CrailsheimCrailsheim
Crailsheim is a town in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, 32 km east of Schwäbisch Hall, 40 km southwest of Ansbach in the Schwäbisch Hall district, incorporated in 1338....
, Kingdom of Württemberg
Kingdom of Württemberg
The Kingdom of Württemberg was a state that existed from 1806 to 1918, located in present-day Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It was a continuation of the Duchy of Württemberg, which came into existence in 1495...
, and trained in medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
in Berlin
Humboldt University of Berlin
The Humboldt University of Berlin is Berlin's oldest university, founded in 1810 as the University of Berlin by the liberal Prussian educational reformer and linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt, whose university model has strongly influenced other European and Western universities...
and Tübingen. He was drafted for military service in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and later obtained a postgraduate qualification in 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...
. In 1931 he became director of the Psychiatric Research Institute in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, which was previously founded by Emil Kraepelin
Emil Kraepelin
Emil Kraepelin was a German psychiatrist. H.J. Eysenck's Encyclopedia of Psychology identifies him as the founder of modern scientific psychiatry, as well as of psychopharmacology and psychiatric genetics. Kraepelin believed the chief origin of psychiatric disease to be biological and genetic...
.
Disgusted by the developing tide of psychiatric eugenics
Eugenics
Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
championed by the Nazi Party, Schneider left the institute and served as an army doctor during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, anti-Nazi academics were appointed to serve in, and rebuild Germany's medical institutions and Schneider was given the post of Dean of the Medical School at Heidelberg University. Schneider kept this post until his retirement in 1955.
Contributions to psychiatry
Schneider was concerned with improving the method of diagnosis in psychiatry. Like Karl JaspersKarl Jaspers
Karl Theodor Jaspers was a German psychiatrist and philosopher who had a strong influence on modern theology, psychiatry and philosophy. After being trained in and practicing psychiatry, Jaspers turned to philosophical inquiry and attempted to discover an innovative philosophical system...
, he particularly championed diagnoses based on the form, rather than the content of a sign or symptom. For example, he argued that a delusion
Delusion
A delusion is a false belief held with absolute conviction despite superior evidence. Unlike hallucinations, delusions are always pathological...
should not be diagnosed by the content of the belief, but by the way in which a belief is held.
He coined the terms endogenous depression, derived from Emil Kraepelin's use of the adjective for biological in origin, and reactive depression, more usually seen in outpatients, in 1920.
First-rank symptoms
He was also concerned with differentiating schizophreniaSchizophrenia
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...
from other forms of psychosis, by listing the psychotic symptoms that are particularly characteristic of schizophrenia. These have become known as Schneiderian First-Rank Symptoms or simply, first-rank symptoms.
These were:
- Audible thoughts (thought echo)
- Voices heard arguing
- Voices heard commenting on one's actions
- Somatic/thought passivity experiences (delusions of controlDelusionA delusion is a false belief held with absolute conviction despite superior evidence. Unlike hallucinations, delusions are always pathological...
) - Thought withdrawalThought withdrawalIn psychiatry, thought withdrawal is the delusion that thoughts have been 'taken out' of the patient's mind. It often accompanies thought blocking. The patient may experience a break in the flow of their thoughts believing that the missing thoughts have been withdrawn from their mind by some...
- Thought insertionThought insertionThought insertion is the idea that another thinks through the mind of the patient. The patient may sometimes be unable to distinguish between their own thoughts and those inserted into their minds. A patient who is diagnosed with this disorder is found to be convinced of their beliefs and...
- Thoughts are ascribed to other people who intrude their thoughts upon the patient - Thought broadcastingThought broadcastingThought broadcasting is a positive symptom of schizophrenia in the diagnostic process undertaken by mental health professionals. Thought broadcasting has been suggested as one of the so-called "first rank symptoms" believed to distinguish schizophrenia from other psychotic disorders.During thought...
(also called thought diffusion) - Delusional perception (i.e. taking a normal sensory perception to mean a bizarre situation such as taking seeing an aeroplane as indicating the patient should be the next president)
The reliability of using first-rank symptoms for the diagnosis of schizophrenia has since been questioned, although the terms might still be used descriptively by mental health professionals who do not use them as diagnostic aids.
A memory device that is frequently used to remember the first rank symptoms
is ABCD: Auditory hallucinations, Broadcasting of thought, Controlled thought (delusions of control), Delusional perception.