Mental Health

• What was the common belief about mental illness before 500 BCE?

  It was caused by supernatural forces.
• How did ancient Egyptians view mental illness?

  As a result of displeasure of the gods.
• What are hallucinations?

  Seeing or sensing things not present.
• What are delusions?

  False beliefs not supported by evidence.
• What is aggression in the context of mental illness?

  Uncontrolled violent outbursts perceived as abnormal.
• Why were treatments for mental illness spiritual in ancient times?

  Because mental illness was seen as supernatural.
• What is trepanning?

  A surgical practice to relieve pressure.
• What was the purpose of trepanning in ancient times?

  To remove evil spirits causing mental illness.
• What was another common treatment for mental illness in ancient times?

  Exorcism using religious rituals.
• How did people appeal to gods for mental illness treatment?

  By making offerings or sacrifices.
• Who developed the humoral theory?

  Hippocrates.
• What are the four humours according to Hippocrates?

  Blood, phlegm, yellow bile, black bile.
• How does an imbalance of humours relate to mental illness?

  It can result in disease, including mental illness.
• What personality type is associated with blood?

  Sanguine personality type.
• What symptoms are linked to an excess of phlegm?

  Depression and lethargy.
• What treatment did Hippocrates recommend for excess yellow bile?

  Purging or inducing vomiting.
• What was Hippocrates' view on black bile?

  It caused depression and negative thinking.
• What is the psychogenic approach to mental illness?

  Focuses on psychological or emotional factors.
• What can cause mental illness according to the psychogenic approach?

  Unresolved emotional conflicts and traumatic experiences.
• What is the goal of psychotherapy in the psychogenic approach?

  To resolve emotional conflicts and improve functioning.
• What are some techniques used in psychogenic therapy?

  Cognitive-behavioral therapy and psychodynamic therapy.
• What does the somatogenic approach emphasize?

  Biological and physical factors causing mental illness.
• What physical factors are explored in the somatogenic approach?

  Infections, hormones, genetics, and brain chemistry.
• What is a key neurochemical factor in schizophrenia?

  Dopamine neurotransmission abnormalities.
• What treatments are proposed by the somatogenic approach?

  Medication and electroconvulsive therapy.
• What is the importance of the somatogenic approach?

  It emphasizes biological factors in mental health.
• What are the main historical views of mental illness?

  • Supernatural explanations (before 500 BCE)
  • Humoral theory by Hippocrates (430-377 BCE)
  • Psychogenic approach by Freud (1900s)
  • Somatogenic approach (1950s onwards)
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the historical approaches to mental illness?

  Strengths:

  • Early attempts to understand mental health
  • Development of various treatment methods

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Lack of scientific basis
  • Often harmful treatments
  • Overemphasis on either psychological or biological factors