Richard von Krafft-Ebing (1840?1902)

Abstract

Richard von Krafft-Ebing was a famous psychiatrist and sex researcher. However, little is known reliably about his life and work. The author was the first with the opportunity to review Krafft-Ebing's papers, which only recently had become accessible. Based on original documents, Krafft-Ebing's history is outlined. While Krafft-Ebing as general psychiatrist only followed the ongoing modernization and liberalization in his field, he was a pioneer of modern forensic psychiatry in his writings, opinions, and especially his viewpoint, emphasizing individual rights and responsibilities. In the field of sexual psychopathology, he basically summarized known case reports but did not lay down theoretical or therapeutic foundations for modern sexual science.