The methodology of psychiatric case histories

This paper deals with the methodology of psychiatric case histories. Three types of case histories are differentiated. The didactic case history teach es about the typical aspects of a psychiatric disorder or treatment by usin g an individual patient as an example. In the heuristic case history the in dividual case gives rise to challenging established concepts or to generate new hypotheses. Such hypotheses drawn from inductive reasoning have then t o be tested using representative samples. The focus of hermeneutic case his tories is the significance of pathological behaviour and experience in the context of the biography of an individual patient. So-called psychopathogra phies of important historical figures can also be differentiated according to these types. Based on these methodological considerations, quality stand ards for the named types of case histories are stated.