Posted by hello123 on May 2, 2015, at 15:47:52
In reply to 'Low Serotonin, Depression Link a Myth?', posted by Rick on May 1, 2015, at 17:26:20
ive been reading a bit from a book called "Shrinks, The Untold Story of Psychiatry. and it mentioned some very early theories on what caused Mental Illnesses and how they were treated. Benjamin Rush, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence was actuly a Psychiatrist, and believed Mental Illnesses were caused by disruptions in blood circulation. and to treat this, he strapped patients to a chair that had w bottom axle that coukd be rotated and spun them around until their symtoms were covered up by dizziness, disorientation and vomiting.
Rush also believed Mental Illness was caused by Sensory Overload. to treat this he strapped patients to a chair and lowered a box resembling a birdhouse over their head. this chair was called a "Tranquilizing Chair". But his preferred treatment method of treatment was using "Bikious Pills", filled with Calomel and Jalap, which were powerful Laxatives made from poisonous Mercury. he believed opening the bowels expelled any deleterious substances causing Mental Illness.
i wonder if/when we will look at todays treatments the same way we now view Benjamin Rush's treatments.
poster:hello123
thread:1078602
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20150407/msgs/1078627.html