Wize University Psychology Textbook > Psychological Disorders
History of Mental Illness
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History of Mental Illness
Our understanding of mental illness, just like our judgements of what is considered "abnormal", has gone through rapid changes over centuries.
In ancient times, abnormal behaviour was attributed to supernatural forces or evil spirits, which was often treated by drilling a hole in the skull to "release" the spirit.
In later centuries, it was thought to be a sign of demonic possession, which required an exorcism or cleansing by a priest. Many women who behaved "abnormally" were thought to be witches and persecuted.
The Greek physician Hippocrates (5th century B.C.), whose name inspired the Hippocratic Oath, was one of the first people to suggest that mental illnesses were a medical issue rooted in the brain — though he thought it was due to an imbalance of fluids in the body
In the 18th and 19th centuries, there were increased calls for compassion and humane treatment towards those with mental illnesses, which further popularized the biomedical theory after centuries of stigma and superstition
At the turn of the 20th century, Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic view of mental illness revolutionized the field of psychology and introduced the concepts of the unconscious mind and defense mechanisms.
The 20th century also saw a rise in the biological psychiatry model, which attempted to develop medications and treatments for mental illnesses just as science had done for other illnesses
The biopsychosocial model is the dominant paradigm today, which recognizes that mental health is affected by a variety of biological, psychological, and social factors, including family history, stress, protective factors, and social stigma.