MEDICAL AND ETHICAL PROBLEMS IN THE CLASS IFICATION OF MENTAL-DISORDERS - THE WURZBURGER-SCHLUSSEL FROM 1933

In 1930 a new classification of mental disorders, later on known as '' Wurzburger Schlussel'', was developed and tested for two years. It rep laced the ''Reichsirrenstatistik'' from 1901, and included new disease entities. This pragmatical classification was mainly descriptive incl uding a few elements regarding aetiology and course of disease. The '' Wurzburger Schlussel'' put emphasis on addictions (especially alcoholi sm), psychopathy (in teenagers as well as in adults) and on the sequel ae of syphilis. However, most of the diseases in elderly patients were not classified as being due to the various descriptive disease entiti es, but to the age related category. The fundamental problems of the d evelopment and practice of a classification of psychic disorders and t he accompanying medical and ethical problems, which are still importan t today, are discussed.