Psychiatry in ancient Indian texts: a review

1 June 1992

journal article
review article
Published by SAGE Publications in History of Psychiatry

Vol. 3 (10) , 167-186
https://doi.org/10.1177/0957154x9200301002

Abstract

Descriptions of different types of mental illness are found in ancient Indian medical and religious texts. This paper offers an insight into these descriptions and the principles of treatment. The role of observation was seen as more important than the subjective experiences of the patient. The concepts of mental illnesses prevalent in ancient India are compared with those practised in modern Western psychiatry. The implications of this comparison for research are discussed.

Keywords

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