Which German psychiatrist is credited with the first classification of mental illness and the somatogenic view?

Emil Kraepelin is recognized for developing the first comprehensive classification system for mental illnesses, laying the groundwork for modern psychiatric diagnosis. He introduced a systematic categorization of psychiatric disorders based on clinical observations and patterns of symptoms, which emphasized the importance of biological factors in mental illness—this is known as the somatogenic view. Kraepelin posited that mental disorders could often be linked to underlying physiological causes, which represented a significant shift in understanding mental health at the time. His influence remains evident in contemporary psychiatry, particularly in diagnostic manuals like the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders).

The contributions of Josef Breuer were more focused on psychoanalysis and the treatment of hysteria rather than systematizing classifications of mental illness. Franz Anton Mesmer is known for his early work on hypnosis and the concept of 'animal magnetism,' which significantly predated Kraepelin and did not emphasize classification. Jean-Martin Charcot, while influential in neurology and the study of hysteria, did not create a classification system as comprehensive as Kraepelin’s. Thus, Kraepelin’s pioneering work sets him apart as the key figure in the classification of mental illness and the somatogenic approach.