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Evolution and Trends in Mental Health Treatment
Dec 3, 2024
Lecture Notes: Treatment in Mental Health
Introduction
Discussion on the history and evolution of mental health treatment.
Shift in language from 'mental illness' to 'mental health' indicating a more positive approach.
Historical Perspective
Spiritual and Supernatural Explanations
Early mental health issues were perceived through a spiritual lens (e.g., witchcraft, demon possession).
Treatments included exorcism and trephining (drilling a hole in the skull to release spirits).
Asylums
Individuals considered 'crazy' were placed in asylums, intended as places of safety but often inhumane.
Poor conditions: shackling, underfeeding, poor sanitation.
Reform in Mental Health Care
Early Reforms
Philippe Pinel
: Early reformer in France advocating for humane treatment.
Dorothea Dix
: Led mental health care reform in the U.S., advocating for better care and respect.
20th Century Innovations
Emergence of scientific understanding and biological explanations for mental health conditions.
Introduction of antipsychotic medications around 1954, revolutionizing treatment for conditions like schizophrenia.
Side effects of medications were a significant challenge.
Deinstitutionalization Movement
1960s-70s movement to close large asylums and reintegrate individuals into the community.
Resulted in increased homelessness among severe mental health sufferers due to lack of adequate support systems.
Modern Mental Health Treatment
Psychiatric Hospitals
Focused on treating severe cases (psychosis, suicidal ideation).
Admissions can be voluntary or involuntary (in cases of imminent danger to self/others).
Aim for holistic care: safety, nutrition, sleep, stabilization.
Current Trends
Increasing rates of diagnostic symptoms reported without formal diagnoses.
Rise in substance use and comorbid mood and anxiety disorders, indicating a significant need for mental health treatment.
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