[Trauma and Psyche in German Psychiatry since 1889].
OBJECTIVE
This paper summarises the psychiatric concepts on trauma in Germany since 1889.


METHODS
Literature review and historical analysis.


RESULTS
Based on the notion that traumatic experience may lead to mental disorders Oppenheim described the traumatic neurosis in 1889. Subsequently, there was an intensive discussion on different concepts until 1918. Since then, the history of psychiatric concepts of trauma in Germany has been characterised by change, repitition and discontinuity. After 1945, mental disorders following traumatic experience hardly featured in textbooks with the exception of the vaguely defined survivor syndrome. In the last 10 years, the concept of posttraumatic stress disorder as originated in the USA became dominant.


CONCLUSIONS
Psychiatry in Germany has a long and inconsistent tradition of theories and concepts on trauma. The historical view may enrich the current debate in which the concept of posttraumatic stress disorder has been increasingly criticized.
Priebe
Stefan
S
Unit for Social and Community Psychiatry, St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London School of Medicine, University of London, UK.
Nowak
Marion
M
Schmiedebach
Heinz-Peter
HP
D005858:Germany; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000266:history*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000266:history*