Schizophrenia - From Devilry to Disease

Abstract

Symptoms of psychotic diseases historically instilled fear and distrust in onlookers, who associated them with witchcraft, demonic spirits, and the devil. From Egyptian medicine to medieval witch hunts, psychotic diseases have been associated with the supernatural throughout history. Yet even with advancements in neuroscience and improvements in our understanding of mental illness, stigma surrounding mental health remains prevalent today. Schizophrenia is a psychiatric illness which has evaded a clinical definition until relatively recently; even now, the precise features that constitute a schizophrenic patient are open to dispute. This article explores the ancient history of mental health with a particular emphasis on psychosis, and also considers the changing attitudes and understanding of schizophrenia throughout the last century, leading to its clinical definition as a treatable condition.