Psychiatr Prax 2016; 43(01): 13-17
DOI: 10.1055/s-0035-1552704
Psychiatriegeschichte
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Vom Auschwitz-Syndrom zum Modell der Psyche – Biografie und Werk des polnischen Psychiaters Antoni Kepinski (1918–1972)

From the Auschwitz Syndrome to a Psyche Model – Life and Work of the Polish Psychiatrist Antoni Kepinski (1918–1972)
Maximilian Schochow
Institut für Geschichte und Ethik der Medizin, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
,
Manuel Willer
Institut für Geschichte und Ethik der Medizin, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
,
Florian Steger
Institut für Geschichte und Ethik der Medizin, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
21 October 2015 (online)

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Zusammenfassung

Ziel: Rekonstruktion des international einflussreichen, aber in Deutschland fast unbekannten Werks von Kepinski.

Methodik: Zusammenstellung und historisch-kritische Analyse von Schlüsseltexten Kepinskis.

Ergebnisse: Kepinskis Arbeiten zum Auschwitz-Syndrom bildeten die Grundlage für sein Verständnis der Psyche sowie für Forschungen zu Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörungen.

Schlussfolgerung: Kepinskis Theorie des Informationsmetabolismus ist grundlegend für die gegenwärtige Versorgung von Patienten. Es gilt, sein Werk weiter zu erschließen und für die Praxis aufzubereiten.

Abstract

Objective: Life and work of the Polish psychiatrist Antoni Kepinski (1918 – 1972) are barely known today, although his writings about the Auschwitz syndrome have had an impact all over the world. We present his biography and work.

Methods: Compilation and evaluation of literature about Kepinski’s work and historical-critical analysis of his key texts.

Results: Kepinski’s work about the Auschwitz syndrome formed the basis for his understanding of the psyche and his theory on information metabolism. Kepinski posited that the mind processes outside stimuli based on its own set of values and that it determines the subject’s actions. In doing so, it affects its environment. If these interactions are disrupted, pathological disorders might result. The therapist should consequently empower the patient to get in touch with his own value-system.

Conclusion: Kepinskis work serves as a foundation for research on disease patterns that are known today as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His theory on information metabolism is essential for the current treatment of patients. It is therefore important to further explore his work and adjust it to the requirements of medical practice.