History of Schizophrenia
While no one can tell exactly and with accuracy how long schizophrenia has been around, no doubt there is enough evidence for mental disorder descriptions in carvings, tablets, and other forms of writings that were used in the ancient world. Note, however, that the brief observations have never fully described in details enough features and symptoms of the disorder as more and more symptoms and features were discovered with technological advancements.
Records found from the ancient world are as sketchy as they can get. This is attributed to the fact that people at the time did not consider the mentally ill as actually sick people who needed medical attention. As a matter of fact, some cultures believed that such people with mental disorders were simply in touch with some high, mystical powers.
Because of the notable absence of written descriptions of schizophrenia, most researchers were led to believe that the condition may have been around during the late middle ages. However, such claims have also been disputed. Even though clear cases of mental disorders have been depicted during the 16th century, a good example being in shakespeare’s plays, what appears to be schizophrenia to one doctor appears to be a similar condition to another psychiatrist, hence the bone of contention.
Even so, everyone seems to agree that the first clearly identifiable description of this mental disorder was during the 19th century, at a time when Frenchman Phillipe Pinel and Englishman John Haslam had an opportunity to describe patients with schizophrenia-like features and symptoms. And as they say, the rest is history as more and more diagnostic measures have come up.
Records found from the ancient world are as sketchy as they can get. This is attributed to the fact that people at the time did not consider the mentally ill as actually sick people who needed medical attention. As a matter of fact, some cultures believed that such people with mental disorders were simply in touch with some high, mystical powers.
Because of the notable absence of written descriptions of schizophrenia, most researchers were led to believe that the condition may have been around during the late middle ages. However, such claims have also been disputed. Even though clear cases of mental disorders have been depicted during the 16th century, a good example being in shakespeare’s plays, what appears to be schizophrenia to one doctor appears to be a similar condition to another psychiatrist, hence the bone of contention.
Even so, everyone seems to agree that the first clearly identifiable description of this mental disorder was during the 19th century, at a time when Frenchman Phillipe Pinel and Englishman John Haslam had an opportunity to describe patients with schizophrenia-like features and symptoms. And as they say, the rest is history as more and more diagnostic measures have come up.