Poul Bjerre
Encyclopedia
Poul Bjerre was a Swedish psychiatrist
who was a native of Goteborg. In 1907 he succeeded hypnotist Otto Georg Wetterstrand
(1845-1907) at the latter's medical practice in Stockholm
.
Bjerre is credited for introducing psychoanalysis
and Freudian psychiatric concepts into Swedish medicine, which in 1911 were presented to a gathering of the "Order of Swedish Physicians". He would later distance himself from several Freudian ideas. Bjerre believed that the workings of the conscious mind were more important than those of the unconscious
, and felt that Freud placed too much emphasis on an individual's sex life. He believed that it was important for the psychiatrist to "be human", and to view and treat his patient in an holistic manner. Bjerre was also a major advocate of hypnosis.
Among his written works was an influential book which theorized on the recurring cycle of "psychic death and renewal" called Död och Förnyelse.
He wrote a biography on Friedrich Nietzsche
, and is also remembered for his written correspondence with Freud and Carl Jung
.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
who was a native of Goteborg. In 1907 he succeeded hypnotist Otto Georg Wetterstrand
Otto Georg Wetterstrand
Otto Georg Wetterstrand was a Swedish physician and psychotherapist who was a native of Skövde.Wetterstrand studied medicine at the University of Uppsala, and in 1871 received his medical license at Karolinska Institute...
(1845-1907) at the latter's medical practice in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
.
Bjerre is credited for introducing psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
and Freudian psychiatric concepts into Swedish medicine, which in 1911 were presented to a gathering of the "Order of Swedish Physicians". He would later distance himself from several Freudian ideas. Bjerre believed that the workings of the conscious mind were more important than those of the unconscious
Unconscious mind
The unconscious mind is a term coined by the 18th century German romantic philosopher Friedrich Schelling and later introduced into English by the poet and essayist Samuel Taylor Coleridge...
, and felt that Freud placed too much emphasis on an individual's sex life. He believed that it was important for the psychiatrist to "be human", and to view and treat his patient in an holistic manner. Bjerre was also a major advocate of hypnosis.
Among his written works was an influential book which theorized on the recurring cycle of "psychic death and renewal" called Död och Förnyelse.
He wrote a biography on Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
, and is also remembered for his written correspondence with Freud and Carl Jung
Carl Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
.