OBJECTIVES
To contextualize and explain Carl Jung’s views on the concept of schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND
Carl Jung (1875-1961) was a Swiss psychiatrist who worked for two of the most recognized and venerated pioneers
in the field of psychiatry and psychology. In the period of 1900-1909 Jung became a disciple of Eugen Bleuler at the
Burghölzli psychiatric hospital in Zürich, participating in his studies with the newly-called “schizophrenia” patients.
Latter, between 1906-1912, he cooperated with Sigmund Freud in the first steps of the psychoanalytical movement,
becoming his heir-apparent. After the end of their intellectual relationship, Jung eventually developed his own model
of the psyche and founded a new school of thought, now named analytical psychology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Review of the literature, aimed at highlighting Jung’s thoughts and contributions to the understanding of
schizophrenia. We propose to concisely explain the fundamental concepts of analytical psychology, and then
systematize Jung’s views of schizophrenia within this framework.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS
Jung had a unique view of the structure of the mind, with specific features that radically differentiated his concept
from Freud’s (or any other for that matter). In light of his model, he proposed several hypotheses to explain psychotic
phenomena experienced by patients with schizophrenia. Although inspired by his former mentors and other European
contemporaries, his contribution is singular. Some of his thoughts are finding potential validation in recent findings by
the scientific community. Its re-discovery by clinicians and investigators could lead to precious insights on the
psychopathology of schizophrenia.

CARL JUNG’S INSIGHTS ON SCHIZOPHRENIA.