Self‐disorder explained: Yasunaga's “Phantom Space Theory” on schizophrenia

Pathography is a medical anthropological approach that examines the relationship between creation and psychiatric disorders through psychopathological and psychoanalytical lenses using case studies. Since it was first defined in the mid‐1960s, pathography in Japan has kept pace with current advances in psychopathological research. However, to date, the findings of pathographic research in Japan have not been published in English. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to introduce the history, methodology, and development of pathography in Japan to the English‐speaking world, accompanied by some classical examples. The paper first describes the history of pathography, from its origins in ancient Greece to important research in the field, including examples of publications and translations. Next, the paper presents the methodology of classical pathography as an approach that shares clinical psychopathology and psychiatric evaluation methods. This topic also introduces five main theses on the relationship between creativity and psychiatric disorders: opposition (“in spite of”), parallelism (“because of”), substitution (“instead of”), intrinsic (“belonging to”), and sublimation (“subsequent to”). Finally, the paper describes the development of pathographic research in Japan by summarizing the pathographies of several figures, including both creators and characters in literary works, and introducing the latest research on salutography, a newly developed field of study that explores the relationship between creativity and mental health. The paper concludes with a few words about the current limitations of pathography and suggestions for ethical considerations with respect to privacy legislation.

Section: The Methodology Of Pathography Five Theses Of Classical Path...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathography in Japan: Exploring the relationship between creativity and the psyche

Tanaka

2023

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16] Nakai, Yomishi Kasahara (1928-), Hiroshi Yasunaga (1929-2011, Tadao Miyamoto (1930Miyamoto ( -1999, Bin Kimura (1931Kimura ( -2021, and others were the forerunners of psychopathology in Japan. Kasahara 17 received attention for his research on student apathy, and Yasunaga 18,19 built a unique theory (phantom space theory) that could explain the experience structure of schizophrenia in a unified manner. Miyamoto 20,21 broadly expanded psychopathology to the theory of civilization, while Kimura 22 developed his own theory of self and life based on "betweenness(aida)."…”

Section: Introduction To Hisao Nakaimentioning

confidence: 99%

Theory of the remission process of schizophrenia (Nakai)

Sugibayashi

2023

Hisao Nakai surprised many experts with his prolific publication of papers ranging from meticulous therapeutic engagement and observations to original research.The "theory of the remission process of schizophrenia" is a representative example of Nakai's research and theories. The significance of Nakai's theory of the remission process is that it let the world know about the existence of schizophrenia's remission process, which had not been previously recognised. Additionally, Nakai's discovery of the "critical period" was significant and his detailed description of the same, which marks the beginning of the remission process, is widely considered to be fundamental. Nakai closely followed common phenomena that appeared accidentally, and he plotted the reactions of the autonomic nervous system, patient's dream content, and drawing content on a chart to show, for the first time, the clear emergence of a "critical period," and demonstrated the crucial role of the remission process. Nakai explained how the process progresses sequentially from the "critical period" to the "early remission period" and the "late remission period." He identified many specific indicators and discovered a great significance in innovative therapeutic engagement in each of these periods.Nakai's findings are supported by meticulous clinical observations and are free from simplifications that stem from simple theorization. In particular, close observation of the remission process was conducted with full engagement and concern of the therapist, without which, the remission process would not have been visible.

“…Although Yasunaga's theory is characterized by an extremely difficult and highly logical writing style, he is aware of the affinity of his theory with neuropsychology and experimental psychology. Perhaps by introducing Yasunaga's theory in English, it may be possible to compare it with the findings in the neurocognitive research related to schizophrenia 38 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Perhaps by introducing Yasunaga's theory in English, it may be possible to compare it with the findings in the neurocognitive research related to schizophrenia. 38 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

History of Japanese psychopathology: Portraits of the second‐generation psychopathologists (Takeo Doi, Yomishi Kasahara, Hiroshi Yasunaga, Tadao Miyamoto, Bin Kimura, and Hisao Nakai) and their relationship to psychiatric reform movement in Japan

Matsumoto,

Shimizu,

2023

This paper attempts to provide an overview of the history of Japanese psychopathology by presenting concise portraits of the second generation of Japanese psychopathologists, whose era is considered to be the heyday of Japanese psychopathology. Meanwhile, we also consider the historical background of the psychiatric reform movement in Japan that influenced many second-generation psychopathologists. First, the paper briefly discusses the emergence of the first-generation of psychopathologists through the adoption of German-centered psychiatry after the Meiji era. In general, the first-generation can be said to have laid the foundation for the independent development of psychopathology in Japan.Then came the second generation, at a time when the psychiatric reform movement was gaining momentum, with the Academic Chair System of the Faculty of Medicine (Ikyoku Kōzasei) heavily criticized, and psychiatric research itself halted temporarily. In order to continue the hampered academic research, workshops on "Psychopathology of Schizophrenia" were organized by the second-generation psychopathologists, whose major figures include Takeo Doi, Yomishi Kasahara, Hiroshi Yasunaga, Tadao Miyamoto, Bin Kimura, and Hisao Nakai. The invaluable contributions of the second-generation psychopathologists are essential to the development of Japanese psychopathology, and their close relationship with the psychiatric reform movement is worth reexamining, as it could be argued that the political tensions generated by the movement were the driving force behind their high-quality work.