Before the period of the enlightenment, treatment of the mentally ill included:

Before the enlightenment (roughly the late 18th century), mental illness was poorly understood and often attributed to demonic possession, moral failing, or a complete loss of reason that rendered the individual sub-human. Consequently, the treatment of the mentally ill was inhumane and focused on confinement and exploitation rather than therapy or rehabilitation. Rationale: A. During this era, institutions like Bethlem Royal Hospital (often called "Bedlam") in London were notorious for their treatment of patients. One of the most egregious practices was allowing the public to pay a small fee to view the insane behind bars. This was considered a form of amusement or a moral lesson, reflecting the era's view that the mentally ill were no longer entitled to human dignity. B. Although religion played a role in explaining mental illness (often as a punishment for sin), the primary treatment was not education but rather exorcism, punishment, or abandonment. The focus on the soul often led to physical torture to drive out evil spirits rather than benevolent religious instruction. C. Large institutions for custodial care became more common after the Enlightenment and into the 19th century (the Era of the Great Confinement). Before this, there were very few dedicated facilities, and those that existed were more like dungeons than care-taking institutions. D. The concept of a safe refuge (Asylum) offering protection and moral treatment was a product of the Enlightenment thinkers like Philippe Pinel in France and William Tuke in England. They were the ones who famously broke the chains and moved toward a more compassionate, humanitarian approach.