Many definitions have been put forth and after time through advancements in understanding and studying methods those definitions have become obsolete. The most famous definition of insanity is “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results” Although the quote’s origins are fragmented, it is attributed to many different people. But one of the many different definitions from the Oxford dictionary website explains “In a state of mind which prevents normal perception, behaviour, or social interaction; seriously mentally ill”.

The earliest accounts of study of the mentally ill, have been recorded in ancient civilisations such as Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, China and Christian Western Europe. As I am sure you can imagine, in these premature comprehensive times towards mental disorders the cause of such states were awarded to the lack of spiritualism in the unfortunate person’s mind. Therefore the remedies were preposterous by today’s standards. Ancient Egypt, many believe to be at the time the most advanced off all nations with regards to the medical understanding of human anatomy, had trouble identifying the source of mental health problems. At the time the Egyptians were able to set broken bones, heal wounds, and triumph in surgical operations. Contrary to stereotypical beliefs, not every solution to a health issue would have permitted a shaman to be called to perform some kind of exorcism on the unfortunate individual. Medical studies were taking place in Ancient Egypt about abnormal behaviour, the Ebers Papyrus is one of the oldest medical papers analysing such disorders as Dementia and depression that were present among the Egyptian population at the time of 1550 BC. However the treatment for many different mental illnesses were what sound like a combination of experimental herbal medicinals mixed with magical spells and recitation of holy scripture. The belief at the time as so many other ancient civilisations, was mental illness is caused by demonic possession, or an angry deity. Ancient Greece spawned many great intellectuals, playwrights, philosophers, astronomists, scientists etc. Some of whom delved into the understanding of the human psyche. Playwrights such as Aeschylus and Sophocles of Classical Athens then Homer and Euripides of the Hellenistic Age all who are well-known tragedians; claimed that madness is caused by the Gods taking away the person’s mind. They also used characters that were “madmen” in their tragic plays.