Republic of the Philippines
Laguna State Polytechnic University
Province of Laguna
History of Psychopathology
The Supernatural Tradition Stress and Melancholy
For much of our recorded history, deviant behavior An equally strong opinion, even during this period,
has been considered a reflection of the battle reflected the enlightened view that insanity was a
between good and evil. When confronted with natural phenomenon, caused by mental or emotional
unexplainable, irrational behavior and by suffering stress, and that it was curable. Mental depression and
and upheaval, people perceived evil. In fact, in the anxiety were recognized as illness. Common
Great Persian Empire from 900 to 600 BC, all physical treatments were rest, sleep, and healthy and happy
and mental disorders were considered the work of environment. Other treatments included baths,
the devil (Millon, 2004). ointments, and various potions. Indeed, during the
14th and 15th century, the insane, along with the
Demons and Witches physically deformed or disabled, were often moved
from house to house in medieval villages as
During the last quarter of 14th century, religious and neighbors took turns caring for them. We now know
lay authorities supported these popular superstitions that this medieval practice of keeping people who
and society as a whole began to believe more have psychological disturbances in their own
strongly in the reality and power of demons and community is beneficial.
witches. People increasingly turned to magic and
sorcery to solve their problems. During these
turbulent times, the bizarre behaviors of people
Treatments for Possession
afflicted with psychological disorders was seen as Possession, however, is not always connected with
the work of the devil and witches. It followed that sin but may be seen as involuntary and the possessed
individuals possessed by evil spirits were probably individual as blameless. Furthermore, exorcism at
responsible for any misfortune experienced by least have the virtue of being relatively painless.
townspeople, which inspired drastic action against Interestingly, they sometimes work, as do other
the possessed. Treatments include exorcism, in forms of faith healing. But what if they did not? In the
which various religious rituals were performed to rid middle ages, if exorcism failed, some authorities
the victim of evil spirits. Other approaches include thought that steps were necessary to make the body
shaving the pattern of a cross in the hair of the uninhabitable by evil spirits, and many people were
victim’s head and securing sufferers to a wall near subjected to confinement, beatings, and other forms
the front of a church so that they might benefit from of torture.
hearing mass.
Somewhere along the way, a creative “therapist”
The conviction that sorcery and witches are causes of decided that hanging people over a pit full of
madness and other evil continued into the 15th poisonous snakes might scare the evil spirits right out
century, and evil continued to be blamed for of their bodies. Strangely, this approach sometimes
unexplained behavior. worked; that is, the most disturbed, oddly behaving
individuals would suddenly come to their senses and
experience relief from their symptoms, if only
temporary. Many other treatments based on the
hypothesized therapeutic element of shock were
developed, including dunking in ice-cold water.
Laguna State Polytechnic University
Province of Laguna
History of Psychopathology
The Supernatural Tradition Stress and Melancholy
For much of our recorded history, deviant behavior An equally strong opinion, even during this period,
has been considered a reflection of the battle reflected the enlightened view that insanity was a
between good and evil. When confronted with natural phenomenon, caused by mental or emotional
unexplainable, irrational behavior and by suffering stress, and that it was curable. Mental depression and
and upheaval, people perceived evil. In fact, in the anxiety were recognized as illness. Common
Great Persian Empire from 900 to 600 BC, all physical treatments were rest, sleep, and healthy and happy
and mental disorders were considered the work of environment. Other treatments included baths,
the devil (Millon, 2004). ointments, and various potions. Indeed, during the
14th and 15th century, the insane, along with the
Demons and Witches physically deformed or disabled, were often moved
from house to house in medieval villages as
During the last quarter of 14th century, religious and neighbors took turns caring for them. We now know
lay authorities supported these popular superstitions that this medieval practice of keeping people who
and society as a whole began to believe more have psychological disturbances in their own
strongly in the reality and power of demons and community is beneficial.
witches. People increasingly turned to magic and
sorcery to solve their problems. During these
turbulent times, the bizarre behaviors of people
Treatments for Possession
afflicted with psychological disorders was seen as Possession, however, is not always connected with
the work of the devil and witches. It followed that sin but may be seen as involuntary and the possessed
individuals possessed by evil spirits were probably individual as blameless. Furthermore, exorcism at
responsible for any misfortune experienced by least have the virtue of being relatively painless.
townspeople, which inspired drastic action against Interestingly, they sometimes work, as do other
the possessed. Treatments include exorcism, in forms of faith healing. But what if they did not? In the
which various religious rituals were performed to rid middle ages, if exorcism failed, some authorities
the victim of evil spirits. Other approaches include thought that steps were necessary to make the body
shaving the pattern of a cross in the hair of the uninhabitable by evil spirits, and many people were
victim’s head and securing sufferers to a wall near subjected to confinement, beatings, and other forms
the front of a church so that they might benefit from of torture.
hearing mass.
Somewhere along the way, a creative “therapist”
The conviction that sorcery and witches are causes of decided that hanging people over a pit full of
madness and other evil continued into the 15th poisonous snakes might scare the evil spirits right out
century, and evil continued to be blamed for of their bodies. Strangely, this approach sometimes
unexplained behavior. worked; that is, the most disturbed, oddly behaving
individuals would suddenly come to their senses and
experience relief from their symptoms, if only
temporary. Many other treatments based on the
hypothesized therapeutic element of shock were
developed, including dunking in ice-cold water.
