Johann Christian August Heinroth
Encyclopedia
Johann Christian August Heinroth (January 17, 1773 – October 26, 1843) was a German physician born in Leipzig
.
He initially studied medicine in Leipzig
, later continuing his education in Vienna
under Johann Peter Frank
(1745–1821). After briefly studying theology
in Erlangen
, he returned to Leipzig, where in 1805 he obtained his medical doctorate. In 1806 he became a lecturer at the University of Leipzig
, where in 1827 he was appointed a full professor of physical medicine.
Heinroth is largely remembered for seminal work done in the field of psychiatry
. His views on psychiatric thought have been described as a combination of anthropology
and holistic medicine. He believed that the soul
had primacy over the body, and that the body and soul interacted in several ways. Consequently, mental sickness and many somatic
illnesses are caused by the soul. In 1818 he introduced the term "psychosomatic" into medical literature.
Heinroth regarded sin as a cause of mental illness
. His description of sin came from a 19th century Protestant standpoint, and was also derived from an accepted European code of ethics
and morality. His definition of sin wasn't based on a singular event, but rather as a period of several years of an individual striving towards earthly, bodily satisfaction. From a philosophical point of view, Heinroth espoused the teachings of Johann Gottfried Herder
(1744–1803).
In his 1818 textbook Störungen des Seelenlebens he classified mental disorders into different categories. The three main categories were named the exaltations, the depressions
and the "mixed states" (Mischung) of exaltation and weakness. He further divided the mixed states category into subcategories called 'mixed mood disorders', 'mixed mental disorders' and 'mixed volition disorders'.
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
.
He initially studied medicine in Leipzig
Leipzig
Leipzig Leipzig has always been a trade city, situated during the time of the Holy Roman Empire at the intersection of the Via Regia and Via Imperii, two important trade routes. At one time, Leipzig was one of the major European centres of learning and culture in fields such as music and publishing...
, later continuing his education in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
under Johann Peter Frank
Johann Peter Frank
Johann Peter Frank was a German physician and hygienist who was a native of Rodalben.He studied medicine at the Universities of Strasbourg and Heidelberg, and earned his medical doctorate in 1766. He was professor at the Universities of Pavia and Göttingen, and for a period of time was personal...
(1745–1821). After briefly studying theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
in Erlangen
Erlangen
Erlangen is a Middle Franconian city in Bavaria, Germany. It is located at the confluence of the river Regnitz and its large tributary, the Untere Schwabach.Erlangen has more than 100,000 inhabitants....
, he returned to Leipzig, where in 1805 he obtained his medical doctorate. In 1806 he became a lecturer at the University of Leipzig
University of Leipzig
The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest universities in the world and the second-oldest university in Germany...
, where in 1827 he was appointed a full professor of physical medicine.
Heinroth is largely remembered for seminal work done in the field of psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
. His views on psychiatric thought have been described as a combination of anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
and holistic medicine. He believed that the soul
Soul
A soul in certain spiritual, philosophical, and psychological traditions is the incorporeal essence of a person or living thing or object. Many philosophical and spiritual systems teach that humans have souls, and others teach that all living things and even inanimate objects have souls. The...
had primacy over the body, and that the body and soul interacted in several ways. Consequently, mental sickness and many somatic
Somatic
The term somatic means 'of the body',, relating to the body. In medicine, somatic illness is bodily, not mental, illness. The term is often used in biology to refer to the cells of the body in contrast to the germ line cells which usually give rise to the gametes...
illnesses are caused by the soul. In 1818 he introduced the term "psychosomatic" into medical literature.
Heinroth regarded sin as a cause of mental illness
Mental illness
A mental disorder or mental illness is a psychological or behavioral pattern generally associated with subjective distress or disability that occurs in an individual, and which is not a part of normal development or culture. Such a disorder may consist of a combination of affective, behavioural,...
. His description of sin came from a 19th century Protestant standpoint, and was also derived from an accepted European code of ethics
Ethics
Ethics, also known as moral philosophy, is a branch of philosophy that addresses questions about morality—that is, concepts such as good and evil, right and wrong, virtue and vice, justice and crime, etc.Major branches of ethics include:...
and morality. His definition of sin wasn't based on a singular event, but rather as a period of several years of an individual striving towards earthly, bodily satisfaction. From a philosophical point of view, Heinroth espoused the teachings of Johann Gottfried Herder
Johann Gottfried Herder
Johann Gottfried von Herder was a German philosopher, theologian, poet, and literary critic. He is associated with the periods of Enlightenment, Sturm und Drang, and Weimar Classicism.-Biography:...
(1744–1803).
In his 1818 textbook Störungen des Seelenlebens he classified mental disorders into different categories. The three main categories were named the exaltations, the depressions
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
and the "mixed states" (Mischung) of exaltation and weakness. He further divided the mixed states category into subcategories called 'mixed mood disorders', 'mixed mental disorders' and 'mixed volition disorders'.
Selected writings
- Beyträge zur Krankheitslehre (Contributions to the Study of Illness) 1810
- Lehrbuch der Störungen des Seelenlebens (Textbook of the Disorders of the Soul, Leipzig 1818) 2 Vols, Volume 1 @googlebooks; volume 2
- Lehrbuch der Anthropologie (Textbook of Anthropology, Leipzig 1822)
- Lehrbuch der Seelengesundheitskunde (Textbook of Mental Health, Leipzig 1823)
- System der psychisch-gerichtlichen Medizin (A System of Physical-Forensic Medicine, Leipzig 1825)
- Grundzüge der Criminal-Psychologie: oder, Die Theorie des Bösen Grundzüge der Criminal-Psychologie oder Die Theorie des Bösen (On the theory of evil, Berlin 1833)
Secondary Literature
- Schmideler S, Steinberg H. Johann Christian August Heinroth (1773-1843). In: Wiemers G (Eds). Sächsische Lebensbilder Vol. 6, pt. 1, Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag 2009:313-337
- Steinberg H. Johann Christian August Heinroth (1773-1843) - Der erste Lehrstuhlinhaber für Psychiatrie und sein Krankheitskonzept. In: Angermeyer MC, Steinberg H (Eds). 200 Jahre Psychiatrie an der Universität Leipzig. Personen und Konzepte. Heidelberg: Springer Medizin Verlag, 2005: 1-80