Volume 40 · Number 2
FEBRUARY 2010
The Continuum of Psychosis — 1986-2010
By Timothy J. Crow, MBBS, PhD, FRCP, FRCPsych, FMedSci
The shadow of Kraepelin stands over psychosis nosology like a colossus. The reason is that Kraepelin made an attempt to systematize diagnosis in a rational, pathophysiological manner. But, to this day, no one has done better. The tragedy is that one can say of Kraepelin that the measure of his stature is the extent to which his influence has delayed progress since his death. With such a judgment, we may be sure he would be distressed. By 1920, he had formulated reservations about the dichotomous scheme to which his name is attached. The quotation that summarizes the paper is: "No experienced psychiatrist will deny that there is an alarmingly large number of cases in which it seems impossible, in spite of the most careful observation, to make a firm diagnosis … Nevertheless it is becoming increasingly clear that we cannot distinguish satisfactorily between these two illnesses and this brings home the suspicion that our formulation of the problem may be incorrect ..."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Timothy J. Crow, MBBS, PhD, FRCP, FRCPsych, FMedSci, is with SANE Prince of Wales International Centre, University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Address correspondence to: Timothy J. Crow, SANE Prince of Wales International Centre, University Department of Psychiatry, Warneford Hospital, Oxford, OX3 7JX, UK; or e-mail: tim.crow@psych.ox.ac.uk.
Dr. Crow has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
doi: 10.3928/00485718-20100127-08
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder: No Dichotomy, a Continuum, or One Disease?
C. Ray Lake, MD, PhD
The Psychotic Continuum: Follow the Evidence, but How is it Interpreted?
Jan Fawcett, MD
Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder:No Dichotomy, A Continuum, or One Disease?
C. Ray Lake, MD, PhD
The Validity of Schizophrenia vs. Bipolar Disorder
C. Ray Lake, MD, PhD
Molecular Genetics and the Kraepelinian Dichotomy: One Disorder, Two Disorders, or Do We Need to Start Thinking Afresh?
Nick Craddock, MA, MD, MmedSci, PhD, FRCPsych;
Michael J. Owen
Psychotic Depression or Schizophrenia
Conrad M. Swartz, PhD, MD
Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective are Psychotic Mood Disorders
Daniel J. Aires, MD, JD;
Nathaniel G. Hurwitz, MD
Overlaps between Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder
Robert M. Post, MD
