‘Introduction’ to ‘Episodic Psychoses’, by Erik Strömgren (1940)

Abstract

This anniversary Classic Text, the 'Introduction' from Strömgren's 'Episodic Psychoses', provides a comprehensive, concise and erudite exposition of the history, nosography and nosology of these conditions. Strömgren traces the origin of this term and concepts back to Magnan's degeneration psychoses and associated 'syndromes épisodiques'. Especially inspired by 'the psychogenic psychosis' (1916), the seminal work by his mentor, August Wimmer, he convincingly shows that the episodic psychoses constitute an intermediate link between the degeneration psychoses, now an obsolete term, and the psychogenic psychoses, reactive psychoses and brief reactive psychoses, which in their own right have been a bone of contention in international psychiatry for many decades and an obstacle in achieving consensus in international psychiatric classification.

The history of Danish neuroscience

“…Strömgren created a rich environment for clinical practice and research—most famously the institutes for genetics and epidemiology—and for biological psychiatry with a world‐famous unit for lithium research to be headed by Mogens Schou (see below). Strömgren's contributions earned him a well‐deserved reputation as a European leader in psychiatry as described in many articles (Berrios & Schioldann, 2017; Bertelsen, 2009; Kragh, 2008b; Schioldann, 2014; Steinberg et al, 2011; Vestergaard, 2011) including one with his wife as co‐author (Schioldann & Stromgren, 1996).…”