Mental Illness During the Middle Ages | Research & Encyclopedia Articles

Mental Illness During the Middle Ages

Overview

Mental illness remains a mystery wrapped inside a puzzle. Although much research has been done, mental disorders remain elusive, and their treatment is still disputed. No single paradigm for explaining mental illness exists.

It is no wonder that throughout history people of different cultures have explained deviant or abnormal behavior as the work of demons, external spirit forces, and poisons. As a result, magical approaches to therapy and rituals evolved. With the development of the Christian church during the Middle Ages, exorcism, shrines, and saints became of great importance for the treatment of mental illness.

During the early years of the Middle Ages the community took care of the mentally ill. Later, hospices, then asylums developed to house them. London's Bethlem asylum—better known as Bedlam—was founded in 1247, making it one of the oldest institutions of its kind. The term "bedlam" became associated with chaos, confusion, and poor treatment, which reflected the general attitude toward mental illness at the time.

Background

People with mental disorders have always been recognized as different and treated in various ways. The divergent responses have paved the way for lasting controversy that exists even today. Early medicine men, considering such individuals to be possessed by demons, introduced a technique called trephination.

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