Emile Kraepelin

Emil Kraepelin was a pioneering psychiatrist from Germany who, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, developed a system to classify mental disorders based on their symptoms and course over time. He believed that mental illnesses are biological in origin and identified conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder as distinct illnesses. His work laid the foundation for modern psychiatric diagnosis, emphasizing careful observation and categorization, which helps clinicians better understand, diagnose, and treat mental health conditions. Kraepelin's approach transformed psychiatry into a more scientific discipline and influenced the development of diagnostic manuals used today.