The "Psychopathologic laboratory" at Burghölzli. Development and termination of the working relationship of C.G. Jung and Eugen Bleuler

Abstract

C.G. Jung was on the staff of the University Psychiatric Clinic in Zurich ("Burghölzli"), headed by Eugen Bleuler, from 1900 to 1909; he became a senior physician in 1905. In correspondence with Sigmund Freud, Jung claimed that he had informed Bleuler about the subject of psychoanalysis and had recruited him for the movement. In fact, it can be shown that Bleuler was familiar with Freud's publications even before Jung came to Burghölzli and that he had written a very positive review of the hysteria study. Jung received his doctorate (1902) and postdoctoral qualification as university lecturer based on Bleuler's reports to the Department of Medicine and continued to give lectures on certain recurring topics, such as the theory of hysteria, until the summer semester of 1914, well after his resignation. Minutes of department meetings that have not previously been evaluated appear to indicate that the department's rejection of the founding of a "psychopathologic research laboratory," expected by Jung,was a major factor leading to his resignation on March 7, 1909. The importance of other events for Bleuler's relationship with Jung--the unsuccessful attempt at an analytical treatment of Otto Gross or Jung's relationship with Sabina Spielrein--cannot be demonstrated based on current sources.