An analysis of treatment methods of mental deficiency and mental health in Ottoman Empire (17-18 cent.)

From past to present, health has been regarded as of paramount importance than anything else in human life. The term health should bring in mind mental health along with the physical health. Human body has a systematic functioning and order. When this order deteriorates, various physical and mental illnesses emerge. Through the history, many psychological disorders have arisen in societies as well as physical illnesses. Persons with mental health disorders and who behave unusual than social norms have been called as "crazy" or other titles depending on the degree of their mental status. Emerging of the psychology as a science was no earlier than the XIXth century. However, even before the XIXth century, people with mental disorders had endeavored to be treated by some scientists and doctors. In this sense, darüşşifas (hospitals) were founded in Turkish-Islamic countries in order to thoroughly study the behaviors of patients and cure them. Likewise, medical institutions called bimarhane (mental asylum) were established for the same reason. It is observed that, various psychological disorders had existed among the public and administrators during XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries in the Ottomans' country. Those mental health disorders had tried to be diagnosed through some tests employed, and then tried to be cured using proper means of treatment for particular illnesses. Sound, water and medication therapies can be counted among those means of treatment. In this study, society's mental health, mental deficiencies and the methods of treatments that had used in the Ottoman Empire by the end of the XVIIth century and mainly in XVIIIth century are examined. The importance of the research is that, it sheds light on psychological statuses of Ottoman community and administrators, treatment methods of illnesses and treatment facilities. The emergence of psychology as a science is also discussed in the study and its several concepts are explained.