Karl Jaspers’ Psychopathology and contemporary psychiatry

The book Allgemeine Psychopatologie (General Psychopathology) by Karl Jaspers has been a source of constant inspiration influencing generations of psychiatrists over the past century. The aim of this paper is to outline the theoretical perspectives given by Jaspers in his work, with reference to modern times, and particularly to contemporary clinical practice and research. The background of General Psychopathology and the areas of investigation dealt with in the book are discussed; moreover, specific features of Jaspers’ descriptive psychopathology are characterized.