The Role of Degeneration Theory in the Understanding of Mental Illness, Colombia First Half of the Twentieth Century

Based on medical journals and theses from the first half of the twentieth century, this article analyzes the role played by the theory of degeneration in the understanding of mental illness in Colombia. It is particularly interesting to show how Colombian physicians have appropriated concepts such a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: María Fernanda Vásquez Valencia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín 2018-01-01
Series:Historia y Sociedad
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/hisysoc/article/view/64570/63977
Description
Summary:Based on medical journals and theses from the first half of the twentieth century, this article analyzes the role played by the theory of degeneration in the understanding of mental illness in Colombia. It is particularly interesting to show how Colombian physicians have appropriated concepts such as degeneration, diathesis, morbid heredity and stigmas of degeneration since the early 20th century to describe, classify and define mental illnesses present in Colombian territory. During this period the theory of degeneration served as the conceptual and theoretical framework for understanding the etiology, genesis and evolution of mental illness.
ISSN:0121-8417
2357-4720