Illness Quote by Eric Kandel
““Psychiatric illnesses were classified into two major groups—organic illnesses and functional illnesses—based on presumed differences in their origin. That classification, which dated to the nineteenth century, emerged from postmortem examinations of the brains of mental patients.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Principles of Neural Science, 2013
Historical classification of psychiatric illnesses into organic vs. functional based on presumed origins, rooted in 19th‑century postmortem brain studies.
In simple terms: Old categories split mental illness by cause.
Key Takeaway
Recognize limits of outdated labels.
Themes
psychiatry
history
science
Mood
critical
inquisitive
Type
academic
historical
When to use this quote
- clinical diagnosis
- research
- education
- policy making
Key Concepts
nosology
brain pathology
Questions to Reflect On
- Are these distinctions still useful?
- How might classification evolve?
A Different Perspective
Modern neuroscience shows overlap between categories.
