In November 1880 Breuer was called in to treat a highly intelligent 21-year-old woman ( Bertha Pappenheim ) for a persistent cough which he diagnosed as hysterical . Freud credited Breuer with opening the way to the discovery of the psychoanalytical method by his treatment of the case of Anna O. In November 1880 Breuer was called in to treat a highly intelligent 21-year-old woman ( Bertha Pappenheim ) for a persistent cough which he diagnosed as hysterical .