History of Mental IllnessClassical UnderstandingsEarly Medicalization“Naturalistic Notions”Biblical ExamplesNon-Western AntiquityEarly Christianity: “Holy Madness” vs. Diabolic PossessionMadness as HeresySkepticism of WitchcraftSlide 10Enlightenment EuropeReason and RationalitySlide 13Slide 14“Fashionable Melancholy”InstitutionalizationSlide 17Slide 18Slide 19Slide 20Slide 21Slide 22Slide 23Slide 24Slide 25Slide 26Slide 27Slide 28Slide 29Slide 30Slide 31Slide 32Slide 33Slide 34Slide 35Sources:History of Mental IllnessHistory of Mental IllnessBy Stacy ClarkBy Stacy ClarkClassical UnderstandingsClassical UnderstandingsEarly Greek Literature & MythologyEarly Greek Literature & MythologyHomer: Iliad- AjaxHomer: Iliad- AjaxGods blamed for the “sacred disease” Gods blamed for the “sacred disease” Healing: prayers, sacrifices to Asklepios, god of healingHealing: prayers, sacrifices to Asklepios, god of healingDramaDramaAeschylus, Sophocles, EuripidesAeschylus, Sophocles, EuripidesMadness often results as “Psychic civil war becomes endemic to Madness often results as “Psychic civil war becomes endemic to the human condition” and introspection begins to dominate the human condition” and introspection begins to dominate dramadramaMedeaMedeaGreco-Roman customGreco-Roman customViolence, cannibalism, grief seen as markersViolence, cannibalism, grief seen as markersNo asylums; family responsibility for careNo asylums; family responsibility for careFear of contagion from evil spirits (Fear of contagion from evil spirits (kereskeres) ) Cure for hysteria (“wandering uterus”): marriageCure for hysteria (“wandering uterus”): marriageIdea of “melancholy genius”Idea of “melancholy genius”Plato, AristotlePlato, AristotleEarly MedicalizationEarly MedicalizationHippocrates (ca. 460-357 BC): natural explanation for epilepsyHippocrates (ca. 460-357 BC): natural explanation for epilepsy““naturalization of madness”naturalization of madness”“…“…the sacred disease appears to me to be no more divine nor the sacred disease appears to me to be no more divine nor more sacred than other diseases, but has a natural cause from more sacred than other diseases, but has a natural cause from which it originates like other afflictions. Men regard its nature and which it originates like other afflictions. Men regard its nature and cause as divine from ignorance and wonder, because it is not like cause as divine from ignorance and wonder, because it is not like other diseases.”other diseases.”Mania and melancholia: excitement/depressionMania and melancholia: excitement/depressionHumoral theory (usually choler, black bile)Humoral theory (usually choler, black bile)Melancholy madness sometimes seen as genius (i.e. modern ideas Melancholy madness sometimes seen as genius (i.e. modern ideas of bipolar creativity)of bipolar creativity)PlatoPlatoTimaeus, 375 B.C.E: Physiological cause of madness, therefore Timaeus, 375 B.C.E: Physiological cause of madness, therefore possibility of treatment by medical meanspossibility of treatment by medical meansAlso, concept of “madness as a transcendental divine fire with Also, concept of “madness as a transcendental divine fire with the power to inspire”the power to inspire”““Naturalistic Notions”Naturalistic Notions”Galen!!Galen!!Mania: disease of yellow bile (the heart)Mania: disease of yellow bile (the heart)““hot” disease called for cooling treatmenthot” disease called for cooling treatmentSoranusSoranusMental illness caused by: “continual sleeplessness, excesses Mental illness caused by: “continual sleeplessness, excesses of venery, anger, grief, anxiety, or superstitious fear, a of venery, anger, grief, anxiety, or superstitious fear, a shock or blow, intense straining of the senses and the mind shock or blow, intense straining of the senses and the mind in study, business, or other ambitious pursuits” in study, business, or other ambitious pursuits” Arataeus of Cappadocia (contemporary of Galen, 150-200 C.E.)Arataeus of Cappadocia (contemporary of Galen, 150-200 C.E.)Descriptions of mental disorders (depression, mania, Descriptions of mental disorders (depression, mania, melancholy, bipolar disorders) and epilepsymelancholy, bipolar disorders) and epilepsy–““one believes himself a sparrow; … or they believe one believes himself a sparrow; … or they believe themselves a grain of mustard, and tremble continuously for themselves a grain of mustard, and tremble continuously for fear of being eaten by a hen.” fear of being eaten by a hen.” –Criticized Dionysian frenzies as disgracefulCriticized Dionysian frenzies as disgraceful•Greek ideas dominated medical thought for centuries, Greek ideas dominated medical thought for centuries, providing basis for medieval European and Islamic thoughtproviding basis for medieval European and Islamic thoughtBiblical ExamplesBiblical ExamplesMadness as divine punishment: Madness as divine punishment: Deuteronomy 6:5, “The Lord will smite Deuteronomy 6:5, “The Lord will smite thee with madness”thee with madness”King NebuchadnezzarKing NebuchadnezzarNew Testament examples of Jesus New Testament examples of Jesus healing demonic possessionhealing demonic possessionNon-Western AntiquityNon-Western AntiquityHinduismHinduismGoddess Grahi (“she who seizes”)Goddess Grahi (“she who seizes”)IndiaIndiaDog-demonDog-demonMesopotamia and BabylonMesopotamia and BabylonSpirit invasion, the evil eye, demonic power, Spirit invasion, the evil eye, demonic power, breaking of taboos led to mental disorderbreaking of taboos led to mental disorder““If at the time of his possession his mind is awake, If at the time of his possession his mind is awake, the demon can be driven out; if at the time of his the demon can be driven out; if at the time of his possession is not so aware, the demon cannot be possession is not so aware, the demon cannot be driven out.” ~Assyrian text, 350 B.C.E.driven out.” ~Assyrian text, 350 B.C.E.Early Christianity: “Holy Madness” vs. Diabolic Early Christianity: “Holy Madness” vs. Diabolic PossessionPossessionSupernatural forces battled for possession, Supernatural forces battled for possession, leading to despair, anguish, etcleading to despair, anguish, etc““Madness of