Phenomenology and the history of psychiatry.
Phenomenology is a word much abused in psychiatry. It has come to mean the objective description of the symptoms and signs of psychiatric illness, a synonym for clinical psychopathology as opposed to that other psychopathology which derives from psychoanalytic theory. Thus it is sometimes stated that the phenomenology of a condition is remarkably consistent although its psychopathology is varied. In truth, phenomenology is a technical term in psychiatry with a specific meaning quite distinct from and in a way opposite to that of objective psychopathology. The inappropriate use of the word is unfortunate not only for semantic reasons but also because there is a real danger that the concept to which it refers will be forgotten.
Beumont
P J
PJ
University of Sydney.
D003702:Delusions / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology; D005060:Europe; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000266:history* / Q000523:psychology; D010684:Philosophy / Q000266:history; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000266:history*; D011574:Psychoanalytic Theory; D011599:Psychopathology / Q000266:history