ABSTRACT
We may say that the iatrogenic constitute a subgroup of reactive neuroses. As iatrogenic neuroses we designate those (predominantly neurotic) states of illness in which it becomes retrospectively apparent that the physicianiatros has induced the pathogenic moment. This doctor-induced pathogenesis rests in essence on anticipatory anxiety; at least it does so insofar as it is anticipatory anxiety that first fixes the symptom in question. Above we have used the expression coined by F. D. Roosevelt, albeit in a completely different context, and which is equally valid in this context: nothing is to be feared as much as fear itself. Going beyond this, there is almost nothing to be feared as much as those doctors who have become so masterful in breeding iatrogenic neuroses through unintentional or thoughtless words to their patients, that one could quite justifiably speak of them as iatrogeniuses.
