Robert Spitzer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Spitzer
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| Born |
Robert Leopold Spitzer
May 22, 1932 |
| Died | December 25, 2015 (aged 83) Seattle, Washington, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Cornell University (B.A.), New York University School of Medicine (M.D.) |
| Occupation | Psychiatrist, professor |
| Years active | 1953-2010 |
| Known for | his work on modernizing classification of mental disorders, recognizing homosexuality as a non-mental disorder |
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Works
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Can Some Gay Men and Lesbians Change Their Sexual Orientation? |
| Spouse(s) | Janet Williams (?-2015; his death) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | psychiatry |
| Institutions | Columbia University |
| Influences | Wilhelm Reich |
Robert Leopold Spitzer (born May 22, 1932 – died December 25, 2015) was an American psychiatrist. He was a professor of psychiatry at Columbia University in New York City. Dr. Spitzer was very important in creating the modern Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). He helped change how certain conditions were understood.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Spitzer was born in White Plains, New York. He went to Cornell University for his first degree. Later, he studied medicine at the New York University School of Medicine. These studies prepared him for his important work in psychiatry.
Career and Contributions
Dr. Spitzer worked at Columbia University for many years. He taught psychiatry there until he retired in 2010. His work greatly influenced how mental health conditions are understood today.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
One of Dr. Spitzer's biggest achievements was his work on the DSM. This book is like a guide for doctors. It helps them understand and classify different mental health conditions. Dr. Spitzer played a key role in updating the DSM. He made sure it was based on scientific evidence. This helped doctors diagnose and treat people more accurately.
Updating Mental Health Classifications
Dr. Spitzer believed that the DSM should only include real mental health conditions. He worked hard to remove things that were not illnesses from the manual. For example, he helped change the way the DSM viewed being gay. Before his work, it was listed as a mental disorder. Dr. Spitzer helped show that it was not a disorder. This was a very important step for many people. It helped reduce unfair ideas about mental health.
Later Life
Dr. Spitzer retired from Columbia University in 2010. He passed away from heart disease at his home in Seattle, Washington. He was 83 years old. His work continues to impact the field of psychiatry.
