Rudolf Karl Freudenberg — from pioneer of insulin treatment to pioneering social psychiatrist

Abstract

Rudolf Karl Freudenberg was Physician Superintendent at Netherne Hospital, Coulsdon, Surrey from 1951 to 1973. In his work as superintendent and government adviser he made important contributions to mental hospital reform and to the establishment of community psychiatric services in Britain. Earlier, in Vienna and following emigration to Britain, he was one of the pioneers of insulin coma treatment with a series of publications on this topic. The paper gives an account of published papers of both phases, and it highlights the background to Freudenberg's shift in professional interest from physical to social intervention. It argues that the change of emphasis reflects important general trends, i.e. profound change due to new forms of physical treatment on the one hand and similarly convincing evidence of the impact of social factors on clinical course and outcome on the other hand.