Emil Kraepelin (historical figure in psychology)

Emil Kraepelin was a pioneering German psychiatrist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries who significantly contributed to the classification of mental disorders. He emphasized understanding mental illnesses as biological conditions, distinguishing between different types based on symptoms and course, such as depression and schizophrenia. His systematic approach laid the foundation for modern psychiatric diagnosis and the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual). Kraepelin’s work helped shift psychiatry towards a more scientific and organized field, influencing how mental health issues are understood, diagnosed, and treated today.