Anna O. (Bertha Pappenheim)

Anna O., whose real name was Bertha Pappenheim, was a woman treated in the late 19th century for mysterious symptoms like paralysis, hallucinations, and speech problems. Her case was studied by psychiatrist Josef Breuer and his colleague Sigmund Freud, leading to the development of psychoanalysis. Anna O.’s symptoms were understood to be linked to psychological factors, particularly repressed emotions and trauma, rather than physical illness. Her case helped illustrate how unconscious mind processes impact mental and physical health, marking a foundational moment in the understanding of mental illness and the development of modern psychotherapy.