The Conceptualization and Treatments for Phrenitis, Mania and Melancholia in Aretaeus of Cappadocia and Caelius Aurelianus.

Abstract

Ancient medical writers, depending upon their medical schools, had different views about the conceptualization and treatments for physical and mental disorders. This thesis compares the conceptualizations and treatments for three main types of madness described in antiquity – phrenitis, mania, and melancholia – provided by two authors – Aretaeus of Cappadocia and Caelius Aurelianus. Phrenitis is an ancient disorder that has no clear modern equivalent, mania and melancholia may have been the two halves of modern bipolar disorder, and melancholia has links to schizophrenia. Although these authors subscribed to different medical theories, and although Aretaeus placed more value on experience and Caelius referred more to theory, their treatments for the three disorders were similar. Ancient doctors treated physical symptoms, just as modern doctors do today. Disorders with predominant physical symptoms were better defined and had more definite treatments. Adherence to specific medical dogmas did not interfere with the day-to-day treatment of the mentally ill.