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Culturomics and the history of psychiatry: testing the Google Ngram method

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 August 2017

O. P. O’Sullivan ,
R. M. Duffy  and
B. D. Kelly
O. P. O’Sullivan*
Affiliation:
National Forensic Mental Health Service, Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin, Ireland
R. M. Duffy
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
B. D. Kelly
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Trinity Centre for Health Sciences, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr O. P. O’Sullivan, National Forensic Mental Health Service, Central Mental Hospital, Dundrum, Dublin 14, Ireland. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Objectives

Culturomics is the study of behaviour and culture through quantitative analysis of digitised text. We aimed to apply a modern technique in this field to examine trends related to the history of psychiatry. In doing so, we aimed to explore the nature of the Google Ngram methodology.

Methods

Using Google Ngram Viewer, we studied Google’s corpus of over 4% of all published books and explored relevant trends in word usage.

Results

An exponential growth in the use of ‘psychiatry’ between 1890 and 1984 was identified. ‘Sigmund Freud’ was mentioned more frequently than all other prominent figures in the history of psychiatry combined. Mentions of ‘suicide’ increased since 1820. The impact of several DSM editions is discussed.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated the potential application of the Ngram methodology to the study of the history of psychiatry. The role of textual analysis in this field merits careful, constructive consideration and is likely to expand with technological advances.

Keywords

Culturomicshistoryinternetpsychiatrypsychoanalysis
Type
Short Report
Information
Irish Journal of Psychological Medicine , Volume 36 , Issue 1 , March 2019 , pp. 23 - 27
Copyright
© College of Psychiatrists of Ireland 2017 

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