Zusammenfassung
Ziel: Rekonstruktion des international einflussreichen, aber in Deutschland fast unbekannten
Werks von Kepinski.
Methodik: Zusammenstellung und historisch-kritische Analyse von Schlüsseltexten Kepinskis.
Ergebnisse: Kepinskis Arbeiten zum Auschwitz-Syndrom bildeten die Grundlage für sein Verständnis
der Psyche sowie für Forschungen zu Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörungen.
Schlussfolgerung: Kepinskis Theorie des Informationsmetabolismus ist grundlegend für die gegenwärtige
Versorgung von Patienten. Es gilt, sein Werk weiter zu erschließen und für die Praxis
aufzubereiten.
Abstract
Objective: Life and work of the Polish psychiatrist Antoni Kepinski (1918 – 1972) are barely
known today, although his writings about the Auschwitz syndrome have had an impact
all over the world. We present his biography and work.
Methods: Compilation and evaluation of literature about Kepinski’s work and historical-critical
analysis of his key texts.
Results: Kepinski’s work about the Auschwitz syndrome formed the basis for his understanding
of the psyche and his theory on information metabolism. Kepinski posited that the
mind processes outside stimuli based on its own set of values and that it determines
the subject’s actions. In doing so, it affects its environment. If these interactions
are disrupted, pathological disorders might result. The therapist should consequently
empower the patient to get in touch with his own value-system.
Conclusion: Kepinskis work serves as a foundation for research on disease patterns that are known
today as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). His theory on information metabolism
is essential for the current treatment of patients. It is therefore important to further
explore his work and adjust it to the requirements of medical practice.
Schlüsselwörter
Antoni Kepinski - Auschwitz-Syndrom - Posttraumatische Belastungsstörung - Informationsmetabolismus
Keywords
Antoni Kepinski - Auschwitz syndrome - posttraumatic stress disorder - information
metabolism
