|  | Conditions Treatments | Diseases

Early History & Treatment for Schizophrenia

The mind of a person inflicted with schizophrenia shifts back and forth between reality and fantasy. Hallucinations and the inability to think in a rational way are common symptoms of this disorder. Early conjecture of this debilitating mental disorder was that demons lurked within the human body and controlled the mind.

  1. Early Treatment

    • Drilling holes in the skull to release the presumed malevolent spirit inside was a common procedure from prehistoric times through the 1800s. Various methods were undertaken on schizophrenic individuals in an effort to quell psychotic episodes. Dr. Benjamin Rush, an American physician whose research spanned the 18th and 19th centuries, believed that all mental illnesses were caused by circulatory problems. Spinning and swinging his patients for hours, he thought, helped to reduce blood flow to the brain and lower the pulse. Bloodletting, another of Dr. Rush's unusual treatments, was perceived to beget healthy circulation.

    Insane Asylums

    • Convinced that the condition of the mentally ill rendered them unable to feel hot or cold sensations, doctors sometimes chained them in unheated hospital cellars. These hospitals were called asylums. Believed to be akin to animals, some victims were kept in cages there and slept on the floor. Barely clad and shoeless, these individuals were fed unsanitary food in meager portions.

    Women's Battle

    • Throughout the 1800s, women were consistently treated as inferior to men, which increased their odds of developing a mental condition at some point in their lives. Females struggled to conceal their emotions and remain passive to avoid the stigma of being labeled as mentally ill.

    Causes

    • Genetics play an important part in determining the cause of schizophrenia, which commonly runs in families. Both the structure of the brain and its chemistry help to diagnose this disorder. Traumatic childhood events, abuse, stress and physical and mental complications during pregnancy are some contributing factors in the development of schizophrenia.

    Breakthrough Remedy

    • In 1954, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of chlorpromazine to help mentally ill patients live a more normal life. Within 10 years, this drug was administered to at least 50 million schizophrenia patients.

    Modern Treatment

    • Today, an early diagnosis of schizophrenia aids doctors in finding an effective treatment for the inflicted individual. With a combination of therapy and medication, there is hope for those suffering with this disorder.

Diseases - Related Articles