History of Mental Illness: Prehistoric Times

History of Mental Illness: Prehistoric Times

Sebreena Zalam, Elaina Kaehr, Sydnie Newby

Mesopotamia

Egypt

Mental Illness: Background

Trephination

1900 BC

6000-5000 BCE

Somatogenic theories identify disturbances in physical functioning resulting from either illness, genetic inheritance, or brain damage or imbalance

Views

• Mental and physical illness considered the same
• Heart and mind were one
• Originated from evil spirits, demons, or wrath of gods
• Believed life to be a continuous cycle

Afterlife

• Monistic view on medicine

Little mind, all body

Supernatural- attributes mental illness to possession by evil or demonic spirits, displeasure of gods, eclipses, planetary gravitation, curses, and sin

• Priest-doctors treated the mentally ill with magico-religious rituals as mental pathology was believed to mask demonic possession
• Exorcisms- expulsion or attempted expulsion of an evil spirit from a person or place
• The extent that an exorcism will work is due to the power of suggestion and psychology (similar to hypnosis)
• Incantations- series of words said as a magic spell or charm
• Prayer

Psychogenic theories focus on traumatic or stressful experiences, maladaptive learned associations and cognitions, or distorted perceptions

• The definition of a mental illness centers around what is considered normal versus abnormal
• Varies with culture and time period
• Because of this, advances in mental health throughout time have been described as cyclical rather than linear
• Three theories:
• Supernatural
• Somatogenic
• Psychogenic

Hallucinogens

MTL activity in the brain increases when on hallucinogens

The temporal lobe (MTL) is responsible for processing sensory input into derived meanings for the appropriate retention of visual memories, language comprehension, and emotion association.

Treatment

• Healing = religious practice
• Therapy involved temples and deities
• Physicians, priests, and magicians had same role
• Addressed with physical treatment or psychotherapy

Neolithic Times

Ancient China

Ancient Hebrews

Works Cited

6500 BC

2700 BC

1792-1750 BCE

Some who underwent this procedure survived and may have lived for many years afterward as trephined skulls of primitive humans show signs of healing.

It was believed that through this opening, the evil spirit(s)--thought to be inhabiting one’s head and causing their psychopathology--would be released and the individual would be cured

If the positive and negative forces are balanced, the result is physical and mental health

• Trephination- example of the earliest supernatural explanation for mental illness.
• Surgical drilling of holes in skulls to treat head injuries and epilepsy as well as to allow evil spirits trapped within the skull to be released.
• This procedure endured through the centuries to treat various ailments such as skull fractures and migraines as well as mental illness, albeit with more sophisticated tools such as skull saws and drills developed solely for this purpose

This procedure was mostly popular in ancient Africa and South America

• Yin Yang- Chinese medicine’s concept of complementary positive and negative bodily forces
• Treatments focused on restoring balance: food was considered to be the source of positive force
• Chinese medicine reached a relatively sophisticated level during the second century

-Punishment from God for committing sin

God still believed to be the ultimate healer

-Demons also believed to hold some responsibility

Persians held similar beliefs

To Avoid

-Take precaution

Good hygiene

Purity of mind and body

Good deeds and thoughts

Treatment

-Hebrew physicians/priests appealed to God

-Confess sins and repent

http://nobaproject.com/modules/history-of-mental-illness

http://www.studentpulse.com/articles/283/the-history-of-mental-illness-from-skull-drills-to-happy-pills

http://everythingaboutpsychology-rohitgurung.blogspot.com/2011/11/early-views-of-mental-disorders-in.html

http://www.ancient.eu/article/687/

http://applications.emro.who.int/emhj/0703/emhj_2001_7_3_377_380.pdf?ua=1

If they are not balanced, illness results