Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the population of this planet. It is a chronic, severe, and disabling mental disorder. It has also been recognized for centuries, perhaps not with the very same nomenclature, but most likely with the exact same symptoms. Nevertheless, the complicated mechanisms which trigger this condition remain a mystery of their own… but for how long?
History of Schizophrenia: from demons to genes
The symptoms commonly associated with schizophrenia are on the records of several ancient civilizations, such as the Greeks, Romans and Egyptians. The causes for this mental disorder have been associated with demons, gods, poisonous substances, dark creatures and a lot more – but until nowadays, there are still no definite answers. There is evidence, nonetheless, to the distinct treatments tested (and utilised) in a number of patients. Drilling holes in a patient’s skull and performing dance rituals were some of them.