Conceptual foundations of schizophrenia: I. Degeneration

This is the first of two papers that aim to identify some of the institutional processes of 19th century European psychiatry, and some prevailing cultural themes of that era that played a role in shaping the development of schizophrenia as a disease concept.

Three areas of psychiatric history are examined: the first is concerned with the key figures who coined the concept of dementia praecox; the second with the rise of the asylum; and the third is to do with the ideology of 19th century psychiatric science and its relationship to a broader intellectual milieu. These three literatures are examined for common themes.

The theme of degeneration is evident in all three literatures, and denotes both a biological process (neuro-degeneration) and a moral state (degeneracy).

The idea of degeneration, a pervasive cultural theme of the 19th century, dominated psychiatric thinking long before schizophrenia was developed as a diagnostic category. It contributed to the ideational form-work that gave foundation, structure and shape to the concept of schizophrenia.