This article aims to situate the Freudian concept of delusion in psychosis as an ‘attempt at recovery’, within the context of the classical psychiatric theories prevalent in 19th century in Germany and in France. Our argument is that Freud’s theoretical thinking on the psychopathology of psychosis presents elements of continuity with, and divergence from, the psychiatric theories of his time. By doing this we will demonstrate the singularity of Freud’s own theory.

First, we will describe how Freud’s own definition of delusion in psychosis as an ‘attempt at recovery’ derived from his analysis of Dr. Schreber’s (1903) Memoirs of My Nervous Illness. We will describe how this definition is underpinned by Freud’s theory of a libidinal aetiology of psychosis, where psychosis would be a two phase diachronous libidinal process.

We will then discuss the possible influence that the theory proposed by Griesinger, with its description of a temporal evolution in the psychotic process, may have had on Freud’s thinking, and consider the theory of ‘deductive logic’ prevalent in 19th century French psychiatry. Finally, we will discuss the vehement critique Freud made of both these theories.