Pre+Pharmacological+Treatments+for+Schizophrenia

__ **A Brief History of Pre-Pharmacological Treatments for Schizophrenia** __ The knowledge and understanding of Schizophrenia has evolved over time and likewise so has the treatments. Essentially, Schizophrenia has a long history dating back from before the first reported case in 1797 and thus has a long history of not only pharmacological treatments but also pre-pharmacological treatments. Initially, there was no understanding of schizophrenia and emotional disturbances and a result it was believed that schizophrenia was a result of evil manifestations and thus treatments involved inhuman practices that segregated and stigmatized individuals suffering from schizophrenia (Korn, 2001). Early emotional disturbances and schizophrenia date back to a more primitive period where more primitive treatments were executed, understandably so. Nevertheless, those primitive treatments continued throughout history and even into the 1900's when Asylums became the main source of treatment (Korn, 2001). Over time the focus for treatment became the deinstitutionalizing of patients and providing them with more humane and less restrictive environment which lead to current treatments.


 * Trepanation: **
 * As early as 10,000BC
 * Schizophrenia was a result of evil manifestations and treatment was the boring of holes in the brain to release evil (Korn, 2001)

**Trepanation: A More Primitive Form of the Lobotomy**

(Untitled photograph of lobotomy, n.d.)

**Confession and Exorcism:**
 * Middle Ages and Renaissance Period
 * Schizophrenia was a result of witchcraft and demonic possessions and treatment was making the emotionally disturbed confess and partake in an exorcism (Korn, 2001)


 * Institutionalization **
 * Asylums began to open up in the early 14th century throughout Florence, Belgium, England and Spain
 * Treatments designed to induce fear and or intense physical or psychical discomfort
 * Some of the major treatments in institutions were (Korn, 2001):
 * **Insulin Treatment**- Provides shock and produces comas and seizures which provided temporary recovery
 * **Therapeutic Labor**- Patients worked on farms and manufactured clothing in order to try and be normal by following a "normal routine"
 * **Tranquilizing Chair**- Straps were used to restrict movement and reduce blood flow, additionally a wooden box was placed on the patients head to restrict movement
 * **Lobotomy-** Surgically disconnecting the prefrontal region of the brain providing sedation
 * **Electroconvulsive Therapy-** Electrical shocks to produce seizures to provide temporary recovery (Primitve shock therapy used eels and fish)
 * Additionally treatments included being chained together with other patients, straitjackets, opium or camphor mixed with vinegar, Moxa- a flaming pitch applied to the head, an iron heated and placed on the forehead, bloodletting, spinning a patient until one lost consciousness, and water shock therapy (Korn, 2001)

**Tranquilizing Chair Dungeons** (Korn, 2001)

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(Kratosmara, 2010)