The Value of Psychiatric Training

Abstract

T HE type of treatment given for any disease has been, throughout the ages, in accordance with the knowledge of the causation of an affliction. Our present concepts of causation of many diseases make more ancient methods seem illogical. Ignorance, superstition, religious belief, etc., have influenced much early medical therapy. Psychologic medicine is no exception, and is the best example of misunderstanding and ignorance. From medieval times, even up to the nineteenth century, we have been ignorant of all things that pertained to the brain or to mental function. This ignorance has been responsible for very cruel, inhumane treatment of mentally abnormal persons. The Romans were, possibly, an exception, since they treated the insane quite humanely. During the dark ages religious training and beliefs encouraged ignorance and discouraged scientific investigation. Mental disorders were considered to be manifestations of the flesh or the devil. Persons having delusions and hallucinations gave real proof of demoniac possession. With this popular conception as to the cause, the treatment was to drive out the evil spirits. This concept still exists among certain races; for example, charms certain people wear to keep away certain diseases. Witchcraft sprang from this idea and flourished from the fifteenth century until 1736. During the seventeenth century in England, any one so unfortunate as to have an illness with hallucinations was burned to death. It is estimated that 40,000 witches were burned to death in England alone. This fear of Satan was taught by the church, and influenced public opinion concerning the nature and cause of mental disease until the