While many ancient cultures contributed to our current knowledge about medicine and psychiatry origins, Ancient Greeks were among the best observers of feelings and moods patients could express toward medicine and toward what today referred as "psychopathology". Myths and religious references were used to explain what elsewhere impossible to understand or easily communicated. Most of ancient myths focus on ambiguous feelings patients could have towards drugs, especially psychotropic ones. Interestingly, such prejudices are common yet today. Recalling ancient findings and descriptions made using myths, should represent a valuable knowledge for modern physicians, especially for psychiatrists, and their patients, with the aim of better understanding each other and therefore achieving a better clinical outcome. The paper explores many human aspects and feelings toward doctors and their cures, referring to ancient myths, focusing on the perception of mental illness.

Medicine and psychiatry in Western culture: among Ancient Greek myths and modern prejudices / Fornaro, Michele; Clementi, Nicoletta; Fornaro, Pantaleo. - In: MEDICINA NEI SECOLI. - ISSN 0394-9001. - 21:3(2009), p. 1105-22.

Medicine and psychiatry in Western culture: among Ancient Greek myths and modern prejudices

Fornaro, Michele;
2009

Abstract

While many ancient cultures contributed to our current knowledge about medicine and psychiatry origins, Ancient Greeks were among the best observers of feelings and moods patients could express toward medicine and toward what today referred as "psychopathology". Myths and religious references were used to explain what elsewhere impossible to understand or easily communicated. Most of ancient myths focus on ambiguous feelings patients could have towards drugs, especially psychotropic ones. Interestingly, such prejudices are common yet today. Recalling ancient findings and descriptions made using myths, should represent a valuable knowledge for modern physicians, especially for psychiatrists, and their patients, with the aim of better understanding each other and therefore achieving a better clinical outcome. The paper explores many human aspects and feelings toward doctors and their cures, referring to ancient myths, focusing on the perception of mental illness.
2009
Medicine and psychiatry in Western culture: among Ancient Greek myths and modern prejudices / Fornaro, Michele; Clementi, Nicoletta; Fornaro, Pantaleo. - In: MEDICINA NEI SECOLI. - ISSN 0394-9001. - 21:3(2009), p. 1105-22.
Medicine and psychiatry in Western culture: among Ancient Greek myths and modern prejudices / Fornaro, Michele; Clementi, Nicoletta; Fornaro, Pantaleo. - In: MEDICINA NEI SECOLI. - ISSN 0394-9001. - 21:3(2009), p. 1105-22.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11588/709311
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