CHAOS THEORY AND COMPLEXITY IN PSYCHIATRY

In spite of the continuing development of psychometric and apparative methods, the determination of mind has not yet been successful. This f act is due to the complexity of the nervous system, which can only be described statistically and as an epiphenomenon, just like any other b iological system, Fractal geometry presented in the sixties by Mandelb rot provides the conception of fractal dimension, a numerical term all owing a more adequate description of complex systems. In many fields o f medical science attempts are being made to apply this knowledge; in psychiatry, however, methodological problems still remain unsolved, Fo r the present the necessity of a new thinking should be emphasized whi le trying to determine the functions and dysfunctions of the mind.