Historic review: the foundation-period and the first 15 years of the “Gesellschaft fuer Neuropaediatrie” (GNP) between 1950 and 1990

Abstract

AbstractAfter the end of Nazi terrorism with many crimes against neuropsychiatric and disabled people, from 1950 on detection and treatment of these diseases in children and adolescents grew continuously: in the 50s and 60s, several German books on neuropediatric topics were published, a journal was founded, and junior pediatricians established many scientific contacts with foreign neuropediatricians. In 1972, the team of the Kehl-Kork Epilepsy Clinic invited neuropediatric colleagues from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland for a first joint workshop. On March 4th, 1975, the Neuropaediatric Society of the German-speaking countries was founded in Heidelberg and its goals, as well as guidelines for membership, were formulated. The first annual meeting took place 1975 in Heidelberg as well. Between 1975 and 1990, the number of members of the GNP continued to increase from 140 to more than 230, despite strict admission criteria. The president was elected for a one-year term and was responsible for organizing the annual meeting, which took place alternately in Germany, Austria or Switzerland. The continuity of the society was ensured by secretary and treasurer as well as several longtime assessors. The meetings covered the entire spectrum of neurological and neuropsychological disorders in children. In addition to the age-dependent clinical investigation, the most important diagnostic methods were electrophysiology, in particular, the EEG and EMG, the new possibilities of cerebral imaging utilizing X-ray computed tomography and ultrasound, and biochemical analyzes for detection of metabolic diseases. Research projects were mostly carried out in university institutions and were only partially multi-center or financed with public funds. International contacts took place on many levels, e.g. through scholarships and personal exchanges with European and US scientific societies and institutions. Unfortunately, the opportunity to exchange ideas with colleagues from the German Democratic Republic (GDR) was limited. Several working groups addressed controversial issues of developmental neurology, epileptology, and alternative therapies. With the establishment of social pediatric centers in Germany from the late 1980s, there was an increasing demand for well-educated and experienced neuropediatricians.