Revisiting Eugène Minkowski’s concept of schizophrenic melancholia

Bibliographic Data

ID19444971
AuthorsFrancisco Cunha (0000-0002-2357-765X, ULS Viseu Dão-Lafões, Portugal, corresponding author), Sandra Borges (0000-0003-4665-1098, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu), Sandra Carreiro Borges (ULS Viseu Dão-Lafões, Portugal), Luis Madeira (0000-0003-2718-9758, University of Lisbon)
Year2025
Volume36
Issue4
Pages269-278
Publication date2025-12-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueHistory of Psychiatry (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0957-154X • E-ISSN: 1740-2360
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0957154x251356412
PMID40716067
OpenAlexW4412676674
LanguageEN
References cited15

This study revisits Eugène Minkowski’s concept of schizophrenic melancholia, emphasizing its relevance to contemporary psychiatry. Through a phenomenological lens, Minkowski highlighted how depressive symptoms in schizophrenia are not merely secondary but intrinsic to the disorder, deeply intertwined with disruptions in time, space, and self-experience. By examining clinical cases, theoretical analyses, and existing literature, this research explores Minkowski’s idea of the “loss of vital contact with reality” as a framework for understanding the existential dimensions of schizophrenia. His insights bridge psychopathology and philosophy, offering valuable perspectives for integrating subjective patient experiences into modern psychiatric approaches. Minkowski’s legacy underscores the need for holistic, patient-centered care that addresses both clinical symptoms and the underlying existential disruptions

Epistemology · Existentialism · Melancholia · Minkowski space · Psychiatry · Psychoanalysis · Psychopathology · Psychotherapist · Historical Psychiatry and Medical Practices · Mental Health and Psychiatry · Philosophy · Psychology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications

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