{"title":"The art of observation: What does Jacques Lacan's mentor have to say?","authors":"Emmanuel Drouin , Marion Hendrickx","doi":"10.1016/j.amp.2025.05.003","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This article explores the fundamental importance of clinical observation in psychiatry by assessing a case report drafted by Gaëtan Gatian de Clérambault (1872–1934) in 1901, during his internship at the Sainte-Anne Asylum (Paris, France). The detailed observation of patient M.’s complex clinical picture illustrates the method based on questioning and observation developed by de Clérambault under the influence of his mentors [notably Valentin Magnan (1835–1916)]. This approach was characterized by meticulous attention to the details of the patient's behaviour and discourse and had a profound influence on the French school of psychiatry–particularly through its impact on Jacques Lacan (1901–1981). This article highlights the importance of clinical observation in psychiatry training and emphasizes the need to learn how to “look” before making a diagnosis. It argues that an approach based on close observation and apprenticeship is essential for maintaining the richness and depth of psychiatric practice, faced with the current trend towards the rapid categorization of mental disorders. The article closes by emphasizing the importance of preserving this legacy in contemporary psychiatric training and practice.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":7992,"journal":{"name":"Annales medico-psychologiques","volume":"183 8","pages":"Pages 859-862"},"PeriodicalIF":0.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Annales medico-psychologiques","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003448725001428","RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PSYCHIATRY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
This article explores the fundamental importance of clinical observation in psychiatry by assessing a case report drafted by Gaëtan Gatian de Clérambault (1872–1934) in 1901, during his internship at the Sainte-Anne Asylum (Paris, France). The detailed observation of patient M.’s complex clinical picture illustrates the method based on questioning and observation developed by de Clérambault under the influence of his mentors [notably Valentin Magnan (1835–1916)]. This approach was characterized by meticulous attention to the details of the patient's behaviour and discourse and had a profound influence on the French school of psychiatry–particularly through its impact on Jacques Lacan (1901–1981). This article highlights the importance of clinical observation in psychiatry training and emphasizes the need to learn how to “look” before making a diagnosis. It argues that an approach based on close observation and apprenticeship is essential for maintaining the richness and depth of psychiatric practice, faced with the current trend towards the rapid categorization of mental disorders. The article closes by emphasizing the importance of preserving this legacy in contemporary psychiatric training and practice.
期刊介绍:
The Annales Médico-Psychologiques is a peer-reviewed medical journal covering the field of psychiatry. Articles are published in French or in English. The journal was established in 1843 and is published by Elsevier on behalf of the Société Médico-Psychologique.
The journal publishes 10 times a year original articles covering biological, genetic, psychological, forensic and cultural issues relevant to the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, as well as peer reviewed articles that have been presented and discussed during meetings of the Société Médico-Psychologique.To report on the major currents of thought of contemporary psychiatry, and to publish clinical and biological research of international standard, these are the aims of the Annales Médico-Psychologiques.