Lacan’s references to schizophrenia (with comments by Antonin Artaud)

Résumé 0

Lacan’s references to schizophrenia are relatively rare and sparse. There are no articles, writings, or seminar lessons of any length devoted to schizophrenia. Two or three important references are usually cited and commented on, but we will see that Lacan’s references to schizophrenia are not limited to these—far from it. It is not a question here of articulating and defending a “Lacanian theory of schizophrenia.” We will avoid overly lengthy comments in order to highlight what Lacan says about this psychosis. These references, almost systematically, will alternate with quotations from Artaud that shed light on the schizophrenic experience and that can echo the conceptions and writings of Lacan. This is therefore a kind of theoretical “compendium” of Lacan’s references to schizophrenia, which, we believe, provides valuable indications for practice, clinical identification, and differential diagnosis.