Athanasios Kafkalides
Encyclopedia
Dr. Athanassios Kafkalides was a Greek neuropsychiatrist
. He was born in 1919 and he died in 1989 while in Athens
. He graduated in medicine from the University of Athens and took post-graduate courses in neurology
, experimental neurophysiology
, neurosurgery
and psychiatry
at the Prince of Wales General Hospital, the Institute of Neurology in London
, the Serafimer Lazarettet and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and the Aeginetion Hospital in Athens.
From 1960 to 1987 he devoted a great deal of time to clinical research into the field of psychedelic psychotherapy
, using drugs such as LSD
, psilocybin
and ketamine
). At the IV World Congress of Psychiatry in Madrid, in 1966, he delivered a paper on the subject of intrauterine life, pioneering the field of pre- and perinatal psychology
. He delivered further papers on intrauterine experiences and their repercussions at the VI International Congress of Psychotherapy (Wiesbaden, 1967), the Panhellenic Congress of Psychiatry in Salonica (1972), Athens (in 1975), and at the Congress of Preventive Psychiatry (Athens, 1979).
He was invited to Cyprus by the Pancypriot Society of Mental Health to give a series of lectures on experiences during intrauterine life and their effects on everyday life [1980]. In 1983-1984 he was invited to Australia, where he gave a series of lectures on his clinical research with ketamine. He has published several papers on LSD and its psychotherapeutic application in "Annales Medico-psychologiques de Paris" (1963), in "Exerpta Medica" (1968), and in Proceedings of the IV World Congress of Psychiatry, Marid (1966).
His two major works, "The Knowledge of the Womb", and "The Power of the Womb", were first published in Greece
in 1980 and 1987. Two years after his death, the I Congress on Autopsychognosia was held in memory of his psychotherapeutic, psychiatric and philosophical work.
"The Knowledge of the Womb" was written after many years of clinical research carried out by Dr K into the unconscious and the causes of mental disturbance. It is based on the experiences and conclusions of 16 individuals who relived the conditions of their intrauterine life and expulsion-birth during sessions with psychedelic drugs. The 16 realized that the quality of their intrauterine life and the conditions of expulsion-birth had enormous repercussions on their everyday life after expulsion-birth. The method of achieving this knowledge is called "autopsychognosia". Autopsychognosia is a neuronal process which gives rise to emotional-intellectual realizations about the content of the unconscious and the motives of behaviour.
Neuropsychiatry
Neuropsychiatry is the branch of medicine dealing with mental disorders attributable to diseases of the nervous system. It preceded the current disciplines of psychiatry and neurology, in as much as psychiatrists and neurologists had a common training....
. He was born in 1919 and he died in 1989 while in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. He graduated in medicine from the University of Athens and took post-graduate courses in neurology
Neurology
Neurology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the nervous system. Specifically, it deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of disease involving the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue,...
, experimental neurophysiology
Neurophysiology
Neurophysiology is a part of physiology. Neurophysiology is the study of nervous system function...
, neurosurgery
Neurosurgery
Neurosurgery is the medical specialty concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of disorders which affect any portion of the nervous system including the brain, spine, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and extra-cranial cerebrovascular system.-In the United States:In...
and psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
at the Prince of Wales General Hospital, the Institute of Neurology in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the Serafimer Lazarettet and the Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, and the Aeginetion Hospital in Athens.
From 1960 to 1987 he devoted a great deal of time to clinical research into the field of psychedelic psychotherapy
Psychedelic psychotherapy
Psychedelic therapy refers to therapeutic practices involving the use of psychedelic drugs, particularly serotonergic psychedelics such as ergine, LSD, psilocin and DMT...
, using drugs such as LSD
LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide, abbreviated LSD or LSD-25, also known as lysergide and colloquially as acid, is a semisynthetic psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects which can include altered thinking processes, closed and open eye visuals, synaesthesia, an...
, psilocybin
Psilocybin
Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychedelic prodrug, with mind-altering effects similar to those of LSD and mescaline, after it is converted to psilocin. The effects can include altered thinking processes, perceptual distortions, an altered sense of time, and spiritual experiences, as well as...
and ketamine
Ketamine
Ketamine is a drug used in human and veterinary medicine. Its hydrochloride salt is sold as Ketanest, Ketaset, and Ketalar. Pharmacologically, ketamine is classified as an NMDA receptor antagonist...
). At the IV World Congress of Psychiatry in Madrid, in 1966, he delivered a paper on the subject of intrauterine life, pioneering the field of pre- and perinatal psychology
Pre- and perinatal psychology
Prenatal and perinatal psychology is an interdisciplinary study of the foundations of health in body, mind, emotions and in enduring response patterns to life...
. He delivered further papers on intrauterine experiences and their repercussions at the VI International Congress of Psychotherapy (Wiesbaden, 1967), the Panhellenic Congress of Psychiatry in Salonica (1972), Athens (in 1975), and at the Congress of Preventive Psychiatry (Athens, 1979).
He was invited to Cyprus by the Pancypriot Society of Mental Health to give a series of lectures on experiences during intrauterine life and their effects on everyday life [1980]. In 1983-1984 he was invited to Australia, where he gave a series of lectures on his clinical research with ketamine. He has published several papers on LSD and its psychotherapeutic application in "Annales Medico-psychologiques de Paris" (1963), in "Exerpta Medica" (1968), and in Proceedings of the IV World Congress of Psychiatry, Marid (1966).
His two major works, "The Knowledge of the Womb", and "The Power of the Womb", were first published in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1980 and 1987. Two years after his death, the I Congress on Autopsychognosia was held in memory of his psychotherapeutic, psychiatric and philosophical work.
"The Knowledge of the Womb" was written after many years of clinical research carried out by Dr K into the unconscious and the causes of mental disturbance. It is based on the experiences and conclusions of 16 individuals who relived the conditions of their intrauterine life and expulsion-birth during sessions with psychedelic drugs. The 16 realized that the quality of their intrauterine life and the conditions of expulsion-birth had enormous repercussions on their everyday life after expulsion-birth. The method of achieving this knowledge is called "autopsychognosia". Autopsychognosia is a neuronal process which gives rise to emotional-intellectual realizations about the content of the unconscious and the motives of behaviour.
External links
- Athanasios Kafkalides, Biography, information and writings.