The most commonly believed cause, demonic possession, was treated by chipping a hole, or “trephine”, into the skull of the patient by which “the evil spirits would be released,” therefore healing the patient.
What is trephination and how does it work?
Trephination dates back to the earliest days in the history of mental illness treatments. It is the process of removing a small part of the skull using an auger, bore, or saw. This practice began around 7,000 years ago, likely to relieve headaches, mental illness, and even the belief of demonic possession.
What is the history of trephining for head injuries?
The most extensive discussion of head injuries and the use of trephining in their treatment is in the Hippocratic work On Wounds in the Head. A 17th-century naval surgeon’s trephination kit. This treatise describes five types of head wounds.
How were the mentally ill treated in the past?
TREATMENT IN THE PAST For much of history, the mentally ill have been treated very poorly. It was believed that mental illness was caused by demonic possession, witchcraft, or an angry god (Szasz, 1960). For example, in medieval times, abnormal behaviors were viewed as a sign that a person was possessed by demons.
Was trephination a popular operation in Renaissance times?
More generally, in Renaissance times and later, trephination was a popular operation and a great variety of instruments for carrying it out were invented. Why did so many cultures in different periods cut or drill holes in the skull?
What was Trephination used for?
In ancient times, trepanation was thought to be a treatment for various ailments, such as head injuries. It may also have been used to treat pain. Some scientists also think that the practice was used to pull spirits from the body in rituals. Many times, the person would survive and heal after the surgery.
What was lobotomy used to treat?
Lobotomies have been used as a radical therapeutic measure intended to calm patients with mental illnesses like schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
How was mental illness treated in ancient times?
The earliest known record of mental illness in ancient China dates back to 1100 B.C. Mental disorders were treated mainly under Traditional Chinese Medicine using herbs, acupuncture or "emotional therapy".
How was mental illness dealt with in the 1600s?
Using religious, psychological, astrological and traditional healing remedies, Napier treated them all using a wide range of treatments.. Responses to mental illness at this time included everything from listening and humane intervention to incarceration in a building or ill treatment.
What does it feel like to be lobotomized?
Freeman believed that cutting certain nerves in the brain could eliminate excess emotion and stabilize a personality. Indeed, many people who received the transorbital lobotomy seemed to lose their ability to feel intense emotions, appearing childlike and less prone to worry.
What happens during a lobotomy?
Historically, patients of lobotomy were, immediately following surgery, often stuporous, confused, and incontinent. Some developed an enormous appetite and gained considerable weight. Seizures were another common complication of surgery.
How was mental illness treated in the early 1900s?
The use of social isolation through psychiatric hospitals and “insane asylums,” as they were known in the early 1900s, were used as punishment for people with mental illnesses.
How were mentally ill patients treated in the 1950s?
The use of certain treatments for mental illness changed with every medical advance. Although hydrotherapy, metrazol convulsion, and insulin shock therapy were popular in the 1930s, these methods gave way to psychotherapy in the 1940s. By the 1950s, doctors favored artificial fever therapy and electroshock therapy.
How were the mentally ill treated in the 1800s?
In early 19th century America, care for the mentally ill was almost non-existent: the afflicted were usually relegated to prisons, almshouses, or inadequate supervision by families. Treatment, if provided, paralleled other medical treatments of the time, including bloodletting and purgatives.
What treatments were used in insane asylums?
To correct the flawed nervous system, asylum doctors applied various treatments to patients' bodies, most often hydrotherapy, electrical stimulation and rest.
In which of the following age the process of Trephining for treating mental disorders was used to perform this procedure?
Trephining (also referred to as trepanning) first occurred in Neolithic times. During this procedure, a hole, or trephine, was chipped into the skull using crude stone instruments.
How was mental illness treated in Shakespeare's time?
Some of his patients suffer from a kind of mental illness which he calls “hypochondriac melancholy”, combined with physical symptoms such as fever. According to his Casebook, patients were offered his usual combinations of bloodletting and purgatives, as if curing the physical symptoms would also cure the mental ones.
When did trephination start?
It is the process of removing a small part of the skull using an auger, bore, or saw. This practice began around 7,000 years ago , likely to relieve headaches, mental illness, and even the belief of demonic possession. Not much is known about the practice due to a lack of evidence.
Why did asylums become popular?
Isolation was the preferred treatment for mental illness beginning in medieval times, which may explain why mental asylums became widespread by the 17th century. These institutions were “places where people with mental disorders could be placed, allegedly for treatment, but also often to remove them from the view of their families and communities,” according to Everyday Health. Overcrowding and poor sanitation were serious issues in asylums, which led to movements to improve care quality and awareness. At the time, medical practitioners often treated mental illness with physical methods. This approach led to the use of brutal tactics like ice water baths and restraint.
Is psychotherapy safe for mental health?
As we learn more about the causes and pathology of various mental disorders, the mental health community has developed effective, safe treatments in place of these dangerous, outdated practices. Today, those experiencing mental disorders can benefit from psychotherapy, along with biomedical treatment and increased access to care. As this study of the history of mental illness care shows, treatments will continue to change along with scientific and research developments and as mental health professionals gain more insight.
Why do shamans use trepanning?
Here, trepanning was particularly common, and the bone taken out was prized as an amulet. Shamans also used it to purge bad spirits, in the cases of those with mental diseases, epilepsy and blindness. The famous Greek physician Hippocrates wrote of this practice being used when someone’s head was indented or bruised.
Where was the first trepanned skull found?
The earliest trepanned skull was discovered at a Neolithic burial site in France, and is more than 7,000 years old.
How many times did Prince Philip have trepanning?
During the Middle Ages and into the 16th century, trepanning continued to be used frequently. Prince Philip of Orange had the operation 17 times, while one poor soul had some 52 holes drilled in the head within a two-month period.
Who performed trepanning on himself?
Even up to the modern day, trepanning has its strong adherents. For instance, a Dutchman named Bart Hughes was so convinced by its usefulness that he performed the operation on himself using a local anesthetic, a scalpel and an electric drill in 1965. This article was taken from the August 2015 issue of BBC History Revealed magazine.
What was the purpose of the flint splint?
It may have had a practical effect – to relieve pressure on the skull after an injury – but it could have also been used to give a trapped demon a hole to escape, or so it was believed. Many different civilisations, from the Romans and Chinese performed the procedure, using sharpened pieces of flint as a surgical tool.
When was mental illness first discovered?
Attempts to treat mental illness date back as early as 5000 BCE as evidenced by the discovery of trephined skulls in regions that were home to ancient world cultures (Porter 10). Early man widely believed that mental illness was the result of supernatural phenomena such as spiritual or demonic possession, sorcery, the evil eye, or an angry deity and so responded with equally mystical, and sometimes brutal, treatments. Trephining (also referred to as trepanning) first occurred in Neolithic times. During this procedure, a hole, or trephine, was chipped into the skull using crude stone instruments. 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 (“Measuring”). Some who underwent this procedure survived and may have lived for many years afterward as trephined skulls of primitive humans show signs of healing. Pressure on the brain may have also incidentally been relieved (Butcher 28). 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 (“Measuring”).
What did the Egyptians do to help with mental illness?
Ancient Egyptians seem to be the most forward-thinking in their treatment of mental illness as they recommended that those afflicted with mental pathology engage in recreational activities such as concerts, dances, and painting in order to relieve symptoms and achieve some sense of normalcy . The Egyptians were also very advanced in terms of medicine, surgery, and knowledge of the human body. In all of these ancient civilizations, mental illness was attributed to some supernatural force, generally a displeased deity. Most illness, particularly mental illness, was thought to be afflicted upon an individual or group of peoples as punishment for their trespasses. In addition to the widespread use of exorcism and prayer, music was used a therapy to affect emotion, and the singing of charms and spells was performed in Babylonia, Assyria, the Mediterranean-Near East, and Egypt in hopes of achieving a cure (Rosen). Beliefs about mental illness and proper treatments were altered, and in some cases advanced, by early European thinkers. Between the 5th and 3rd centuries BCE, Greek physician Hippocrates denied the long-held belief that mental illness was caused by supernatural forces and instead proposed that it stemmed from natural occurrences in the human body, particularly pathology in the brain.
What was moral management?
Stemming largely from the work of Pinel and Tuke, moral management emerged in America as “a wide-ranging method of treatment that focused on a patient’s social, individual, and occupational needs ” (Butcher 39). Applied to asylum care, moral management focused on the mentally ill individual’s spiritual and moral development as well as the rehabilitation of their personal character to lessen their mental ailments. These goals were sought through encouraging the patient to engage in manual labor and spiritual discussion, always accompanied by humane treatment.
What is the stigma attached to mental illness?
The social stigma attached to mental illness was, and to some extent still is, pronounced in countries that have strong ties to family honor and a reliance on marriages to create alliances and relieve families of burdensome daughters. In China, the mentally ill were concealed by their families for fear that the community would believe that the affliction was the result of immoral behavior by the individual and/or their relatives. The mentally ill were also thought to have “bad fate” that would negatively influence anyone who associated with the disturbed individual, scaring away potential suitors and leading to the idea that mental illness was contagious (Phillips 10). Historically in Greece, “a mentally ill (family) member implies a hereditary, disabling condition in the bloodline and threatens (the family’s) identity as an honorable unit,” therefore treatment of the mentally ill in these cultures meant a life of hidden confinement or abandonment by one’s family (Blue 305). Mentally ill vagrants were left alone to wander the streets so long as they did not cause any social disorder. Those who were deemed dangerous or unmanageable, both in family homes or on the streets, were given over to police and thrown in jails or dungeons, sometimes for life (Stigma 43). Particularly in Europe during the Middle Ages, beatings were administered to the mentally ill who acted out as punishment for the disturbances their behavior caused and as a means of “teaching” individuals out of their illnesses. Others who were considered nuisances were flogged out of town (Rosen).
Who was the first person to reform asylum?
One of the most significant asylum reforms was introduced by Philippe Pinel in Paris. During the year of 1792, Pinel took charge of La Bicetre to test his hypothesis that mentally ill patients would improve if they were treated with kindness and consideration. Filth, noise, and abuse were eliminated quickly after patients were unchained, provided with sunny rooms, allowed to exercise freely on the asylum grounds, and were no longer treated like animals (Butcher 38).
Where did asylum reforms begin?
One of the earliest reforms occurred at an asylum in Devon, England. This facility had employed opium, leeches, and purges as cures for mental illness, but in the mid-1800s emphasized non-restraint methods to affect patients’ health (Stigma 64).
Who studied trepanation?
Neurosurgeons, neurologists, psychologists, and anthropologists have all been interested in trepanation. Most importantly, it was Paul Broca who studied trepanation and created his own theory on the procedure (Clower & Finger, 2001).
What is trepanation in North America?
Trepanation in North America: -Gradual scraping of the skull in small circles was the most common used technique. Many North American Indian tribes, including Kwatkiutl and Pueblo Indians, used techinques very similar to trepanation to treat the mentally ill (Arnott, Finger, & Smith, 2003). Trepanation in South America:
What did Broca believe about trepanation?
If aggressive blow were the case then Broca believed that the majority of skulls would have been male and more holes would have been on the left side of the skull and on the front side.
Where is trepanation most common?
Trepanation in Africa: – Trepanation was most common in countries such as Kenya and Tanganyika for headaches and seizures (Clower & Finger, 2001). Trepanation in Europe: – Skulls were found in France by Paul Broca and other researchers.
Why did Broca take the skull to Broca?
He took the skull to Broca hoping that he could create some conclusion for this incomplete skull. Broca noticed that there were no fractures or unusual cracks around the hole, therefore he noted that the Peruvian culture had performed advanced surgeries before Europe (Clower & Finger, 2001).
Where did trephination occur?
Trephined skulls have been found from the Old World of Europe and Asia to the New World, particularly Peru in South America, from the Neolithic age to the very dawn of history.[3,14,18] [Figures [Figures11and and2]2] We can speculate why this skull surgery was performed by shamans or witch doctors, but we cannot deny that a major reason may have been to alter human behavior – in a specialty, which in the mid 20thcentury came to be called psychosurgery!
Who invented the triangular trephine?
Likewise, the triangular trephine instrument designed by Fabricius of Aquapendente (1537-1619) was subsequently used for opening and entering the skull; triangular trephines had already been modified for elevating depressed skull fractures.
Why was psychosurgery developed?
Psychosurgery was developed early in human prehistory (trephination) as a need perhaps to alter aberrant behavior and treat mental illness. The “American Crowbar Case” provided an impetus to study the brain and human behavior. The frontal lobe syndrome was avidly studied. Frontal lobotomy was developed in the 1930s for the treatment ...
What was the trepanation of the skull used for?
During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, trepanation was performed not only for skull fractures but also for madness and epilepsy. There are telltale works of art from this period that bridge the gap between descriptive art and fanciful surgery. For example, we find the famous oil painting by Hieronymus Bosch (c. 1488-1516) that depicts “The Extraction of the Stone of Madness” [Figure 7]. Likewise, the triangular trephine instrument designed by Fabricius of Aquapendente (1537-1619) was subsequently used for opening and entering the skull; triangular trephines had already been modified for elevating depressed skull fractures. And thus, we find variations of the famous engraving by Peter Treveris (1525), illustrating surgical elevation of skull fractures, in many antiquarian medical textbooks[18] [Figure 8].
What is the name of the personality disorder that Gage developed?
These changes in personality would later be recognized as the frontal lobe syndrome.
What was the first instrument to penetrate the skull?
In ancient Greece and Rome, many medical instruments were designed to penetrate the skull. The Roman surgeons developed the terebra serrata, which was used to perforate the cranium by rolling the instrument between the surgeon's hands [Figure 6]. Both the great physicians and surgeons, Celsus (c. 25 BC – c. AD 50) and Galen (c. AD 129 – c. AD 216) used these instruments. It is easy to see that the terebrawas the forerunner of the manual burr hole and electric drill neurosurgeons use today for craniotomy procedures.
When was frontal lobotomy first used?
Frontal lobotomy was developed in the 1930s for the treatment of mental illness and to solve the pressing problem of overcrowding in mental institutions in an era when no other forms of effective treatment were available.
When did trepanation first appear?
In the south-central Andean highlands, trepanations first appeared around A.D. 200 to 600, according to the University of California. The treatment was largely practiced until the early 16th century. An article in the journal World Neurosurgery reported that trepanation was widely practiced throughout China thousands of years ago.
How long has trepanation been around?
Raphael Davis, a neurosurgeon and co-director of the Neurosciences Institute at Stony Brook University. "It's been done for about 5,000 years, making one of the oldest medical procedures known to the human race," Davis told Live Science.
What did Paul McCartney say about trepanning?
"Trepan" comes from the Greek word trypanon, which, fittingly, means "a borer."
Why do people trepanate?
In ancient times, trepanation was thought to be a treatment for various ailments, such as head injuries. It may also have been used to treat pain. Some scientists also think that the practice was used to pull spirits from the body in rituals . Many times, the person would survive and heal after the surgery.
What are some examples of unsuccessful trepanation?
One example of an unsuccessful procedure is a medieval woman who died while pregnant.
Why do people practice trepanation?
Occasionally, people will practice trepanation on themselves for various reasons. A rare few have the procedure done to "become enlightened" or to aid in their mental health in some way. For example, there is the case of Peter Halvorson. In the 1970s, he drilled a hole in his own head in an attempt to cure his own depression.
Why did Peter Halvorson drill a hole in his head?
For example, there is the case of Peter Halvorson. In the 1970s, he drilled a hole in his own head in an attempt to cure his own depression.