The madness throughout history

Fuente Imag

Before being associated with the psyche of man, it was directly related to supernatural facts, getting to say that a person was possessed, haunted or derived. It was also said that the insane came to that state because of their own sins. So for a long time the demons and divine punishments were linked to mental disorders.

Subsequently, specifically from the Middle Ages, they began to add different diseases to the list of "crazy", in this century were lepers, but after the plague, venereal diseases followed.

In the period of the Renaissance, madness was conceived as a manifestation of evil and the insane were banished from civilization in the "stultifera navis" or ship of the madmen.

It is not until Humanism that madness becomes a matter of human reason and an important turn arises, it is about questioning the habitual vision of people, making a critique of the conception of reality. And finally, it is in the 17th century when the mad hospital is created.

Stigma of madness

For centuries the end of the psychotic was confinement, having them isolated and far from civilization was the most "reasonable" decision at the time, since the citizens were not disturbed by them.

In the postwar period, this changed. It began to have a more human and "democratic" vision on this issue, that is, it was understood that during the past time was acted in a cruel manner, therefore there is a new approach towards these people who are not yet conceived within minorities when they are.

In the present and in the western cultures, integration is sought. However, this still has a great flaw and that is misinformation.

In countries such as Spain campaigns are carried out to explain that a person suffering from schizophrenia can access jobs as any of the people and lead a common life as everyone, provided that it is under treatment, something that enhances inclusion.

Family and madness

Families are a fundamental part in any person, with greater reason when this has a certain dependence, such as psychotics.

Any family that is responsible for a person with psychiatric disorders not only requires help from the government or the State, such as the economic one, but also needs resources such as care of professionals in an efficient manner, where the service time is optimal, with home visits if necessary, among others.

Currently, families, in most countries, feel little support and when patients do not have support from the family, they usually fall into what the State provides, which is not usually a minimum acceptable assistance.