Psychiatry and Psychology in Persian Traditional Medicine

rich body of psychological thought existed in the writing of ancient Persian scientists. However the contribution of medieval Persian physicians to the psychological sciences was one of the great magnitude, considering its effect upon scientific and philosophic thought and upon the psychology of later times. The history of psychological sciences and especially the ways in which related disorders were treated in medieval Persia are not well known in the West. Several documents still exist from which the clinical data on different psychological syndromes in medieval Persia can be ascertained. The medieval practitioners defined various signs and symptoms, apparent causes, and hygienic and dietary rules for prevention of these disorders. Medieval Persian medical writings encouraged the treatment of psychological disorders by tackling the conditions that cause or contribute to the disorder and through the use of electrical-shock therapy, phlebotomy, psychotherapy, music and color therapy, and especially prescription of long lists of medicaments. Some of the approaches of doctors in medieval Persia are accepted today, although most remain largely unexamined. With further research, more of these treatments may be shown to be of use to modern medicine.