G. E. Berrios
Encyclopedia
German E. Berrios is a Professor
of Psychiatry
at Cambridge University in the UK.
He was born in Tacna
, Peru
, and studied medicine
and philosophy
at the University of San Marcos (Lima
, Peru). Subsequently, he read psychology
and philosophy
at Corpus Christi College
, Oxford University, where he was a scholar by examination. He did postgraduate work in the history
and philosophy of science
at the same university under Charles Webster (medical historian), Alistair Cameron Crombie
(historian of science), and Rom Harré (philosopher of science); and trained in neurology
and psychiatry
at the (then) Oxford United Hospitals.
Between 1973 and 1976 he was a Lecturer in Psychiatry at the University of Leeds
where he trained in medical statistics
under Professor Max Hamilton and received didactic analysis from Harry Guntrip
.
Since 1977, he has taught at Cambridge University, UK (Departments of Psychiatry and of History and Philosophy of Science) where he currently holds the Chair of the Epistemology of Psychiatry and is a Consultant
Neuropsychiatrist at Addenbrooke's Hospital
(Cambridge, UK). He is a Life Fellow of Robinson College, and Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
of the UK, the British Psychological Society
, and the Academy of Medical Sciences
. In 1989, he founded (with the late Roy Porter
) the international journal History of Psychiatry of which he remains the editor.
He is married to Doris Alvarado Contreras (born Nazca
, Peru, 1942); they have had 4 children: German Arnaldo (deceased), Francisco Javier (deceased), Claudio Fabricio (Business Analyst
) and Ruben Ernesto (Philosopher).
His research has centred around the psychiatric complications of neurological diseasehttp://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?berrios and the history, structure and epistemological power of descriptive psychopathology
. His ideas have been developed further by graduates from countries as far apart as Australia, Japan, Brazil, India, Chile, Colombia, China, Italy, and Spain who once attended the "Cambridge School of Psychopathology". He is also interested in the ethics of research and for the last 18 years has been Chairman of the Cambridge Research Ethics Committee. He has been visiting professor at Universities in Hong Kong, Barcelona, Lima, Heidelberg, Jerusalem, Cornell, Adelaide, Chile, Mexico, Medellin, etc.
He has published 14 books and more than 400 papers on the clinical, historical and philosophical aspects of neuropsychiatry, mental symptoms, and descriptive psychopathology. He holds degrees honoris causa from the University of Heidelberg (Germany); the University of San Marcos (Perú); the Autonomous University of Barcelona
(Spain); the University of Buenos Aires
(Argentina). In 2006, a Chair in Descriptive Psychopathology carrying his name was established at the University of Antioquia
(Medellín, Colombia).http://www.udea.edu.co/portal/page/portal/portal/A.InformacionInstitucional/H.UnidadesAcademicas/A.Facultades/Medicina/J.PublicacionesMedios/E.Catedras/CatedraProfesorGermanBerrios In 2007 he was awarded the Order of the Sun (Class: Grand Officer) by the Peruvian Government; in 2008 the Ramón y Cajal Award by the International Neuropsychiatric Association http://www.inawebsite.org/; and in 2010 he was made Honorary Fellow by the Royal College of Psychiatrists
of the UK.
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of 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 Cambridge University in the UK.
He was born in Tacna
Tacna
- Rail :Tacna is served by a cross-border standard gauge railway to Arica, Chile.It is also the location of the National Railway Museum of Peru.-Air:Tacna is served by the Crnl. FAP...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, and studied medicine
Medicine
Medicine is the science and art of healing. It encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness....
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the University of San Marcos (Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Peru). Subsequently, he read psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
and philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at Corpus Christi College
Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Corpus Christi College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom...
, Oxford University, where he was a scholar by examination. He did postgraduate work in the history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and philosophy of science
Philosophy of science
The philosophy of science is concerned with the assumptions, foundations, methods and implications of science. It is also concerned with the use and merit of science and sometimes overlaps metaphysics and epistemology by exploring whether scientific results are actually a study of truth...
at the same university under Charles Webster (medical historian), Alistair Cameron Crombie
Alistair Cameron Crombie
Alistair Cameron Crombie was an Australian historian of science who began his career as a zoologist. He was noted for his contributions to research on competition between species before turning to history....
(historian of science), and Rom Harré (philosopher of science); and trained 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,...
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 (then) Oxford United Hospitals.
Between 1973 and 1976 he was a Lecturer in Psychiatry at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
where he trained in medical statistics
Medical statistics
Medical statistics deals with applications of statistics to medicine and the health sciences, including epidemiology, public health, forensic medicine, and clinical research...
under Professor Max Hamilton and received didactic analysis from Harry Guntrip
Harry Guntrip
Harry Guntrip was a psychologist known for his major contributions to object relations theory. He was a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a psychotherapist and lecturer at the Department of Psychiatry, Leeds University, and also a Methodist minister. He was described by John D...
.
Since 1977, he has taught at Cambridge University, UK (Departments of Psychiatry and of History and Philosophy of Science) where he currently holds the Chair of the Epistemology of Psychiatry and is a Consultant
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
Neuropsychiatrist at Addenbrooke's Hospital
Addenbrooke's Hospital
Addenbrooke's Hospital is an internationally renowned teaching hospital in Cambridge, England, with strong links to the University of Cambridge. It was founded in 1766 on Trumpington Street with £4,500 from the will of Dr John Addenbrooke, a fellow of St Catharine's College...
(Cambridge, UK). He is a Life Fellow of Robinson College, and Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom responsible for representing psychiatrists, psychiatric research and providing public information about mental health problems...
of the UK, the British Psychological Society
British Psychological Society
The British Psychological Society is a representative body for psychologists and psychology in the United Kingdom. The BPS is also a Registered Charity and, along with advantages, this also imposes certain constraints on what the society can and cannot do...
, and the Academy of Medical Sciences
Academy of Medical Sciences
The Academy of Medical Sciences is the United Kingdom's national academy of medical sciences. It was established in 1998 on the recommendation of a group that was chaired by Michael Atiyah. Its president is John Irving Bell....
. In 1989, he founded (with the late Roy Porter
Roy Porter
Roy Sydney Porter was a British historian noted for his prolific work on the history of medicine.-Life:...
) the international journal History of Psychiatry of which he remains the editor.
He is married to Doris Alvarado Contreras (born Nazca
Nazca
Nazca is a system of valleys on the southern coast of Peru, and the name of the region's largest existing town in the Nazca Province. It is also the name applied to the Nazca culture that flourished in the area between 300 BC and AD 800...
, Peru, 1942); they have had 4 children: German Arnaldo (deceased), Francisco Javier (deceased), Claudio Fabricio (Business Analyst
Business analyst
A Business Analyst analyzes the organization and design of businesses, government departments, and non-profit organizations; BAs also assess business models and their integration with technology.-Levels:...
) and Ruben Ernesto (Philosopher).
His research has centred around the psychiatric complications of neurological diseasehttp://www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/profile.php?berrios and the history, structure and epistemological power of descriptive psychopathology
Psychopathology
Psychopathology is the study of mental illness, mental distress, and abnormal/maladaptive behavior. The term is most commonly used within psychiatry where pathology refers to disease processes...
. His ideas have been developed further by graduates from countries as far apart as Australia, Japan, Brazil, India, Chile, Colombia, China, Italy, and Spain who once attended the "Cambridge School of Psychopathology". He is also interested in the ethics of research and for the last 18 years has been Chairman of the Cambridge Research Ethics Committee. He has been visiting professor at Universities in Hong Kong, Barcelona, Lima, Heidelberg, Jerusalem, Cornell, Adelaide, Chile, Mexico, Medellin, etc.
He has published 14 books and more than 400 papers on the clinical, historical and philosophical aspects of neuropsychiatry, mental symptoms, and descriptive psychopathology. He holds degrees honoris causa from the University of Heidelberg (Germany); the University of San Marcos (Perú); the Autonomous University of Barcelona
Autonomous University of Barcelona
The Autonomous University of Barcelona is a public university mostly located in Cerdanyola, near the city of Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain....
(Spain); the University of Buenos Aires
University of Buenos Aires
The University of Buenos Aires is the largest university in Argentina and the largest university by enrollment in Latin America. Founded on August 12, 1821 in the city of Buenos Aires, it consists of 13 faculties, 6 hospitals, 10 museums and is linked to 4 high schools: Colegio Nacional de Buenos...
(Argentina). In 2006, a Chair in Descriptive Psychopathology carrying his name was established at the University of Antioquia
University of Antioquia
The University of Antioquia , also called UdeA, is a public, departmental, coeducational, research university based primarily in the city of Medellín, Antioquía, Colombia. It is the largest higher education institution by student population in the northwest of the country, and the second in...
(Medellín, Colombia).http://www.udea.edu.co/portal/page/portal/portal/A.InformacionInstitucional/H.UnidadesAcademicas/A.Facultades/Medicina/J.PublicacionesMedios/E.Catedras/CatedraProfesorGermanBerrios In 2007 he was awarded the Order of the Sun (Class: Grand Officer) by the Peruvian Government; in 2008 the Ramón y Cajal Award by the International Neuropsychiatric Association http://www.inawebsite.org/; and in 2010 he was made Honorary Fellow by the Royal College of Psychiatrists
Royal College of Psychiatrists
The Royal College of Psychiatrists is the main professional organisation of psychiatrists in the United Kingdom responsible for representing psychiatrists, psychiatric research and providing public information about mental health problems...
of the UK.