The Concept of Consilience in the Field of Psychiatry

Soo Churl Cho

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2012.51.6.349

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Cho: The Concept of Consilience in the Field of Psychiatry

Review Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2012; 51(6): 349-358.

Published online: 30 November 2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2012.51.6.349

The Concept of Consilience in the Field of Psychiatry

Soo Churl Cho, MD, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Soo Churl Cho, MD, PhD. Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Seoul National University, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul 110-744, Korea. Tel +82-2-2072-3648, Fax +82-2-747-2471, soochurl@snu.ac.kr

Received 3 April 2012 Revised 17 August 2012 Accepted 28 September 2012

Abstract

Objectives

The objective of this paper is to suggest a new model in psychiatry for understanding the psychopathology and to provide a new treatment modality.

Methods

In this paper, the author attempted to apply the concept of 'Consilience' to the field of psychiatry. Recently, the term 'Consilience' has been very popular and has been used frequently across the various academic fields. The original meaning of 'Consilience' is 'to jump (consilience) together (con). 'Consilience' was first used by William Whewell and Edward Wilson borrowed it to describe the unity of knowledge. In one word, 'Consilience' can be defined as 'to unify every field of knowledge and science to understand the human being and to improve the life of human being'.

Results

First, the human being by itself is the integrative being and consilient. Second, the developmental processes of psychiatry show that there are three definite developmental phases, including 'period of Consilience', 'period of diverse development', and 'reappearance of period of Consilience'. Third, in terms of historical perspective, the basic attitudes of religion have been closely associated with the basic concept of psychiatry. Finally, the treatment modalities in psychiatry show that integrative methods, including biological, psychological, social, and spiritual treatment have been applied.

Conclusion

Based on these findings, the 'Bio-Psycho-Socio-Spiritual Model' is suggested to apply the concept of 'Consilience' to the field of psychiatry.

Keywords: Consilience, Bio-Psycho-Socio-Spiritual Model, Psychiatry

Figures and Tables

Table 1

Treatment methods in psychiatry

CBT : Cognitive-behavior therapy, EST : Electroconvulsive therapy, TMS : Transcranial magnetic stimulation, MST : Magnetic seizure therapy, VNS : Vagus nerve stimulation, DBS : Deep brain stimulation, TDCS : Transcranial direct current stimulation

Notes

The author has no financial conflicts of interest.

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