Nervenheilkunde 2022; 41(05): 294-307
DOI: 10.1055/a-1755-7539
Editorial

Autismus: Kindheit – Krankheit – Menschheit

Manfred Spitzer

Mit „Autismus“ (altgriechisch autós: selbst[ 1 ]) bezeichnet man eine im Kindesalter auftretende Störung der Entwicklung eines Menschen, die vor allem den Kontakt und die Kommunikation mit anderen Menschen betrifft. Das Kind reagiert nicht oder nur verzögert auf Ansprache, wendet sich nicht zu, nimmt keinen Blickkontakt auf, interessiert sich mehr für Sachen als für Menschen und neigt zum Wiederholen der immer gleichen Verhaltensweisen. Die Sprachentwicklung und die intellektuelle Entwicklung können normal sein, sind jedoch bei etwa einem Drittel der Betroffenen gestört.

Das Wort und der Begriff „Autismus“ wurde von Eugen Bleuler in seinem Buch über Schizophrenie im Jahr 1911 in die Psychiatrie eingeführt und als Veränderung der Beziehung „des Binnenlebens mit der Außenwelt“ (S. 51) definiert [9]. „Das Binnenleben bekommt ein krankhaftes Übergewicht (Autismus)“ (S. 51). Für Bleuler war dieses „krankhafte Übergewicht des Innenlebens“ neben Störungen des Denkens, Wollens und Affekts (die er „Grundsymptome“ der Schizophrenie nannte) eine besonders wichtige Störung „zusammengesetzter geistiger Funktionen.“ Er beschreibt Autismus bei schizophrenen Patienten wie folgt:[ 2 ] „Die schwersten Schizophrenen […] leben in einer Welt für sich; sie haben sich mit ihren Wünschen, die sie als erfüllt betrachten, […] in sich selbst verpuppt und beschränken den Kontakt mit der Außenwelt so weit wie möglich“ [9].



Publication History

Article published online:
05 May 2022

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