Moral Therapy
The world of normalcy could become a reality for the mentally ill, "the mad", would be made possible with the birth of Phillipe Pinel, April 20, 1745 - October 25, 1826. The pure thought that through the ideologies of one - the treatment of thousands and ultimately millions could be made possible. It was Pinel 's "moral treatment or "traitement moral" that would open the door for the humane therapies for the mentally ill and thus labeling him as one of the founders of psychiatry. Prior to Pinel those with mental disorders were believed to demonically possessed.
To fully grasp the idea of morality in treating the "demonically possessed", one might reflect on Pinel 's background. His father was a barber surgeon and his
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Although Pinel 's writings and ideologies were wrought with critics he trod forth, refusing to address the critics, nor would he allow his followers to respond.
The real impact and perhaps driving desire to understand the mentally ill was impacted when in 1785 a friend of Pinel 's "went mad", ran into the woods and was eaten by wolves. It was during visits to private confined mental patients and as he was assigned to an asylum for the incurable insane men that Pinel observed the treatment of these patients. Even then, over 200 years ago, during medicines archaic practices, Pinel found the conditions appalling with many being treated like beasts, chained to walls for 30 to 40 years and put on public display. The public would pay admission to see these demonically possessed humans. This treatment
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Pinel 's attempted to encourage humane treatement of the mentally ill,, but the then director or doctor was more interestedin the financila gain than he was in the possibility of finding a treatent for these demoncally possessed patients. It was in 1793 at the Hospicede Bicentre that pinelwas ableto begin the implementation of humane treatent of the insane.
Pinel discarded the poplar belief that the mentally ill were of demonical possession instead a resulting factor of excessive exposure to social and psychological damage or sorrow. He no longer supported the practices of bleeding, purging, etc., instead favouring therapy to include getting close and providng friendly contact (unchaining those bound to walls). He encouraged discussion with the patients of their personal difficulties and gave them purposeful activities. Henceforth, he institited psychaitric therapeutics or "traite moral", the first attempt at psychotherapy. These therapies included simple practices to include that of hygiene, physical