Madness, Demonic Possession, and Methods of Categorization

Philippe Pinel a pioneer, a french psychiatrist, a physician, known as father of modern psychiatry, revolutions psychiatric care of patients with mental illness by introducing concept of moral treatment. Pinel rejected the then prevailing popular notion that mental illness was caused by demonic possession and stated that mental disorders could be caused by a variety of factors including psychological or social stress, congenital conditions, or physiological injury, psychological damage, or heredity. Philippe Pinel for the first time in history of psychiatric patients treated them humanly by unchaining patients known as madmen. This historic event was done for first time in Bicêtre Hospital in 1798 a Parisian insane asylum. In this article a brief history of life and work of pioneer Philippe Pinel is mentioned.

Download Full-text

Demonic Possession in the New Testament. Its Relations, Historical, Medical, and Theological. Wm. Menzies Alexander

The American Journal of Theology ◽

10.1086/478309 ◽

1903 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 147-149

Author(s):

Luther Tracy Townsend

Keyword(s):

New Testament ◽

Demonic Possession ◽

The New Testament

Download Full-text

On the Intersection of Faith Background and Mental Health Beliefs: What MSW Students Learned About Themselves

Social Work & Christianity ◽

10.34043/swc.v48i3.242 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 308-322

Author(s):

Jennifer Payne

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Content Analysis ◽

Health Beliefs ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Health Issues ◽

Childhood Experience ◽

Demonic Possession ◽

Mental Health Issues ◽

Msw Students

Students enter college with pre-formed beliefs about the causes of mental health issues, from spiritual explanations (e.g., demonic possession) to biological explanations (e.g., genetics). However, they rarely have thought through how their faith backgrounds influence their beliefs about mental health. MSW students in their clinical concentration year engaged in a class-based assignment in which they explored the question, "Where are you on the spectrum of belief regarding the cause of mental illness?" A qualitative content analysis was completed on 69 student papers collected over five years. Results showed how each student's religious childhood experience shaped his or her view about mental illness causes.

Download Full-text