Mental Illness History

Psychotropic medications are drugs that has a powerful effect on the central nervous system in the brain. Psychotropic medication alters the chemical in the brain which effect thought, mood, emotions and behaviors. Drugs are prescribed to treat a diagnosed mental disorder/illness such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Depression, etc. Medications can be useful to treat or alleviate the symptoms that an individual may experience. However, at the same time, psychotropic medications can do more harm than good. Psychotropic drugs can present dangerous side effects, and there is a potential risk that the client has to consider before taking them. With that being said, the patient should always discuss with their doctor the risks and benefits or if there is an alternative treatment available. Psychotropic medication has always been a hot debate, especially when deciding if it should have administered to children or not.

In early American history, individuals with mental illnesses have been neglected and suffered inhuman treatments. Some were beaten, lobotomized, sterilized, restrained, in addition to other kinds of abuse. Mental illness was thought to be the cause of supernatural dreadful curse from the Gods or a demonic possession. Trepanning (the opening of the skull) is the earliest known treatment for individuals with mental illness. This practice was believed to release evil spirits (Kemp, 2007). Laws were passed giving power to take custody over the mentally ill including selling their possessions and properties and be imprisoned (Kofman, 2012). The first psychiatric hospital in the U.S. was the Pennsylvania Hospital where mentally ill patients were left in cold basements because they were considered not affected by cold or hot environments and restraint with iron shackles. They were put on display like zoo animals to the public for sell by the doctors (Kofmen, 2012). These individuals were punished and isolated and kept far out of the eyes of society, hidden as if they did not exist. They were either maintained by living with their families and considered a source of embarrassment or institutionalized

Furthermore, tremendous advances have been made in the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses in the recent decades. Nowadays, someone with a mental illness is treated with respect, just like every other person, because, in fact, everyone is equal. Society’s goals today are to treat and support the mentally ill individuals enough so they can live in

They are popularly referred to as being part of a continuum, the ability to successfully perform in productive activities and relationships, as opposed to the inability to do such things (Mental Illness Overview). Ever since the first edition of the DSM was published in 1952, scientists have studied how a person’s mind relates to their brain and whether the disorders they listed were organic or purely in the mind (Arben). Science has made extraordinary leaps in this aspect, as they have come to discover not only the biological change that causes mental illnesses, but they are also able to pin down even specific chromosomes linked to them. One in particular that has been heavily studied is depression, which is known to be related to a lack of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. Some of the more recently developed medications, known as SSRIs, block the receptors that recycle serotonin from taking in too much and allowing enough to carry proper signals throughout the brain (Johnson). While some people insist on the opinion that drugs such as these are overprescribed (Medications for Mental Illness Are Overprescribed), professionals use tested algorithms when determining whether a patient is in need of medication, and if so what medication to use (Restricting Medications for Mental Illness Harms Patients). These methods have been fine-tuned over the past few decades and are used treat a patient to their own personal needs, and to aid

Through the course of time, mental illnesses have always been in existence due to varying factors and causes. However, as time has passed, the perceptions and available treatments for mental illnesses have also changed as new technology was developed. By looking at the treatments and perceptions of mental illnesses in the early 20th century, we can learn how to properly treat and diagnose not only mental disorders but also other conditions as well as show us the importance of review boards and controlled clinical trials.

Three years ago, my best friend was prescribed four different medications for three mental illnesses; bipolar disorder, depression, and ADHD. On these medications I saw a side of him I never wanted to, they made him crazy. I will be against the way psychiatrist treat patients now; they hand out prescriptions like candy. Often children will be put on many medications, but it is very hard to diagnose them with a mental illness or to know if they are just acting the way children do. Many doctors use prozac for a variety of illnesses, but all illnesses need to be treated differently because everybody is different. In addition, in 2006 a 4 year old girl died from accidental overdose on psychiatric medications.

With an estimated 9.3% of Americans currently living with major depression or bipolar disorder, according to the NIMH, the safety of antidepressant drugs is at the forefront of many pharmaceutical discussions. At present, the most common drugs used to treat the debilitating lethargy, anxiety, and fatigue often associated with major depression fall into three key categories based upon mechanism of action: SSRIs, Tricyclics, and MAOIs. Since major depression and bipolar disorder are characterized by imbalances of certain chemicals within the brain, prescription medications are often the best way of relieving the symptoms of these disorders. As with any medication, antidepressants carry risks of side-effects, which usually relate to the drug

The Neolithic era details the earliest treatment of mental illnesses (dating back as far as 10,200 BC). Men, women, and children alike from all parts of the world (the greatest evidence found in ancient Peru) underwent an invasive surgery, which involved physicians drilling a hole into the skull to reveal the Dura mater. This hole was supposedly an exit pathway for demonic spirits to leave the human body. This treatment of mental illness was know as trephination, and was the most widely accepted form of medical care for mentally ill patients (Feldman, 2001).

Medical History: Client does not present any medical history problem. Client had never experience counseling before, this is the first time he is having counseling. Client had stated that he feels comfortable with counselor and he likes he fact that everything being said is between the counselor and the client, besides any types of harm including himself or others.

“God must have been having a bad day,” a father recently wrote me, “when He allowed schizophrenia to come into existence.” E. Fuller Torrey, M.D. (Walsh, 1985)

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The majority of patients are in favour of using medications because there aren’t many severe side effects. Some of the mild and general side effects are dry mouth, rash, and headaches. Some of the more severe side effects include nausea, insomnia, and hyponatremia. As a result of this, the use of SSRIs is used as first-line pharmacotherapy [ ]. Another reason to why patients are in favour of pharmacological treatment is because the medications are used in high doses so it is more effective and therefore symptoms are controlled much more efficiently. The use of Clomipramine has its advantages, as does every type of SSRI. Clomipramine was used to treat OCD patients in the early 80’s [8]; however the disadvantage of using it now to treat OCD patients is the side effects. Side effects experienced from taking Clomipramine are much more severe than your ordinary SSRIs; these side effects include bloody urine, feeling sad/severe mood changes,

I think insanity can be consider during the time a crime was committed without any history of mental illness. Experiences and events can mold and change the way some acts or views things. I agree it is very difficult to determine insanity, especially if there isn’t any history of it. A history of mental illness would definitely support the claim.

One such medicine is antidepressants. These pills are great at the right dosage and routine, but for the antidepressants that affect serotonin there is a high risk I have personally seen, Serotonin syndrome. It can range

The ancient Greeks viewed mental illness as having derived from the gods (Griffith 625; Ludwig 4; Neihart; Weisberg 361). According to them, different forms of madness provoked various types