The history of psychiatry is relatively short. This is primarily because the term did not exist prior to 1808. It was coined by the German philosopher Johann Christian Reil from the Greek “ψυχή” (soul or mind) and “ιατρός" (healer or doctor) (Burch, 2009; Gask, 2004; Marneros, 2008; Richards, 1998; Shorter, 1997; Shorter, 2005). (Reil is also famous for his description of the Katzenklavier, described in his 1803 book Rhapsodieen uber die Anwendung der psychischen Curmeth- ode auf Geisteszerriittungen (Rhapsodies on the Application of Psychological Methods of Cure to the Mentally Disturbed). This instrument had a row of cats with their tails stretched out behind them. When the keyboard was depressed, nails dropped down into the tails of the unfortunate animals, who would then produce a distinct sound. He recommended that this be used to distract the insane from their reveries (Richards, 1998)). His book also discussed the benefits of housing incurable and curable forms of madness separately (Kuehn & Klemme, 2010). Reil also founded the profession’s first journal, the Journal of Psychological Therapy, in 1805 (Burns, 2003).
The Katzenklavier or "cat piano"
References:
Burch, S. (Ed.) (2009). Encyclopedia of American disability history. New York, NY: Facts on File Inc.
Burns, W.E. (2003). Science in the enlightenment: An encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio Inc.
Gask, L. (2004). A short introduction to psychiatry. London, England: Sage Publications Ltd.
Kuehn, M., & Klemme, H. (Eds). (2010). The dictionary of eighteenth century German philosophers. London, England: Continuum.
Marneros, A. (2008). Psychiatry’s 200th birthday. British Journal of Psychiatry 193, 1-3
Richards, R.J. (1998). Rhapsodies on a cat-piano, or Johann Christian Reil and the foundations of romantic psychiatry. Critical Inquiry 24, 700-736.
Shorter, E. (1997). A history of psychiatry: From the era of the asylum to the age of Prozac. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Shorter, E. (2005). A historical dictionary of psychiatry. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
Burch, S. (Ed.) (2009). Encyclopedia of American disability history. New York, NY: Facts on File Inc.
Burns, W.E. (2003). Science in the enlightenment: An encyclopedia. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-Clio Inc.
Gask, L. (2004). A short introduction to psychiatry. London, England: Sage Publications Ltd.
Kuehn, M., & Klemme, H. (Eds). (2010). The dictionary of eighteenth century German philosophers. London, England: Continuum.
Marneros, A. (2008). Psychiatry’s 200th birthday. British Journal of Psychiatry 193, 1-3
Richards, R.J. (1998). Rhapsodies on a cat-piano, or Johann Christian Reil and the foundations of romantic psychiatry. Critical Inquiry 24, 700-736.
Shorter, E. (1997). A history of psychiatry: From the era of the asylum to the age of Prozac. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Shorter, E. (2005). A historical dictionary of psychiatry. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
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