Kraepelinian paradigm

The Kraepelinian paradigm is a way of understanding mental health conditions that was developed by Emil Kraepelin. It views mental illnesses as distinct disorders with specific biological and clinical features, much like physical diseases. For example, he distinguished between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder based on their symptoms and course. This approach emphasizes careful observation, categorization, and a focus on underlying biological causes. It has shaped modern psychiatry by promoting the idea that mental illnesses are valid, separate diagnoses requiring targeted treatment, rather than vague or purely emotional problems.