(Per)correndo os caminhos no Coração da Loucura. Bernardo Teixeira Coelho: Vida e Obra

Abstract

Introduction This dissertation fits in one of the most recent chapters in the History of Psychiatry in Portugal, portraying the Life and Work of Bernardo Teixeira Coelho, MD (1936-2021). In this way, it intends to honor Porto's psychiatrist, endowed with exact thinking and a giant heart, whose clinical practice was guided by the "Sign of Hippocrates". Material and Methods Bibliographic research was carried out in libraries in Porto, in the Historical Archive of the Porto Holy House of Mercy, in the Rectory Archive, and in the Online Thematic Repository of the University of Porto. Interviews were also conducted with his wife and the disciples of Bernardo Teixeira Coelho, MD, who provided numerous information, including oral reports, photographic material and some of his scientific articles. Results Bernardo Teixeira Coelho was born on July 3rd, 1936, in Porto. In 1957, he joined the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto. During his university pathway, he highlighted two major areas of interest, which became two passions during his life, Music and Psychiatry. Over more than forty years of professional activity, he dedicated himself to clinical practice, took part in the training of psychiatry residents and published scientific articles. He was elected Clinical Director of Conde de Ferreira Hospital, Delegate of the North Zone at the Institute of Psychiatric Assistance, President of the Inter-Hospital Commission of Porto, Coordinator of Forensic Psychiatry Service at Conde de Ferreira Hospital and, later, at the Magalhães Lemos Hospital. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Northern Regional Section of the Portuguese Medical Association for eighteen years. Discussion and Conclusion Bernardo Teixeira Coelho was an eximious psychiatrist who followed his Masters' footsteps - Barahona Fernandes, PhD and Henrique Gomes de Araújo, MD - and became a prominent personality of Psychiatry in Portugal. Currently, Forensic Psychiatry at the Magalhães Lemos Hospital is legacy of Bernardo Teixeira Coelho and his psychiatric thinking is maintained alive by his disciples who disseminate his anthropological-phenomenological vision of Psychiatry, preventing Master's Work from being forgotten. According to different sources, Bernardo Teixeira Coelho was a great Man and Doctor who, encouraged by his family and friends, embraced several projects throughout his life, leaving an unequivocal legacy to Medicine in general and to Psychiatry and Mental Health in particular. Keywords: Bernardo Teixeira Coelho; Phenomenology; Psychiatry and Mental Health; Forensic Psychiatry; History of Medicine.