Sabshin describes three turning points in twentieth century American psychiatry. Following "the time of the Thirteen", the time of the founders of modern American psychiatry, the first turning point was marked by the rise of Meyerian psychobiology and had its peak impact during the second quarter of the twentieth century. In the post World War II years diverging therapeutic ideologies became dominant, including the important impact of psychoanalysis. But competing ideologies (e.g. in social and biological psychiatry) were of importance also. The most recent turning point was marked by the current surge of neuro-science and psychopharmacology along with empiricism and logical positivsm. It is predicted to peak in the middle of the current decade. Following the preceding demedicalization a remedicalization of psychiatry was the result. For the turn of the 21st century, as Sabshin predicts, a re-emergence of analogues of Meyerian psychobiology will take center stage, particularly concentrating on questions of coping and adaptability, on how the human being keeps himself healthy and sane during subsequent developmental stages as well as in the face of stressful life events.

Fortschritte der Neurologie, Psychiatrie

Biological Psychiatry - history; Psychiatry - history; Psychopharmacology - history; United States; History, 20th Century; Humans; Psychoanalysis - history; Index Medicus; History of medicine; United States

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