Citation

Minguez Martin L, García Sánchez FJ, Gonzalez Pablos E, Herreros Guilarte I. An. Psiquatr. 2009; 25(2): 98-103.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Arán Ediciones)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

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Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Hypocratic medicine (V-IV centuries B.C.) introduces medical model of mental illness. It supports that both physical and psychiatric disorders consist in natural phenomenons.

AIM: To study the different types of mental disorders described in Classic Antiquity.

METHODology: The references used have been treaties about History and History of Medicine (crossed references) and articles (Medline search).

RESULTS: There is neither taxonomy nor mental disorders treaty in antique literature. Nevertheless, we can find several syndromes described by different authors, as epilepsy, brain diseases, ignorance or instinct predomination, individual and collective hysteria, depression, anxiety and erotic melancholy. Instead of a pathological phenomenon, suicide is considered as a rational behaviour.

DISCUSSION: Although mythic consideration of illness continues, scientific knowledge of mental disorders begins in Greece. However, the types described do not coincide with modern taxonomy. Copyright © 2009 Aran Ediciones, s. l.

Language: es

Keywords

literature; Suicide; MEDLINE; Epilepsy; depression; anxiety; suicidal behavior; review; epilepsy; mental disease; melancholia; hysteria; history of medicine; Mental illness; Hysteria; organic brain syndrome; Melancholy; Antiquity; Classic antiquity