title: [An Early Social-Psychiatric Work in the GDR].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In 1966 the Leipzig neuropsychiatrist and psychotherapist Christa Kohler qualified as a university lecturer on social-psychiatric problems in patients aged 40 + suffering from psychoses and neuroses. This paper acknowledges this habilitation thesis in its historical context as an early contribution to East German social psychiatry.
  
  
  METHODS
  First the thesis itself is searched for points characteristic of Kohler's approach to social psychiatry. Parallel to that, her views are contextualised with other primary sources from or secondary sources about GDR psychiatry at that time. Finally archival sources and oral testimonies of eye witnesses have been considered to substantialise the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The habilitation thesis is based on data from several hundreds of patients with regard to their demographic, medical and sociological features. Her approach to how older patients suffering from mental illnesses should be treated and rehabilitated is still highly relevant. Yet one must critically assess that many of Kohler's results as well as her psychotherapeutic treatment were ideology-based or oriented on the GDR system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Kohler's approach shows a clear, yet improper amalgamation of medical science and political ideology. Future research must show in how far this is typical for her concept only or for the whole of GDR social psychiatry.
authors: Archiv für Leipziger Psychiatriegeschichte, Klinik und Poliklinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Universität Leipzig, Semmelweisstraße 1004103 Leipzig.
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Steinmetz
authors: Hubertus
authors: H
authors: Himmerich
authors: Holger
authors: H
authors: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D004212:Academic Dissertations as Topic / Q000266:history*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003158:Community Psychiatry / Q000266:history*; D005260:Female; D005859:Germany, East; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000266:history*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000266:history*; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000266:history*; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational / Q000266:history*