الطب النفسي في الحضارة العربية الإسلامية : منظور تاريخي

Abstract EN

The current paper aims to explore the history of psychiatric medicine in the Arab Islamic civilization and to show the contribution of Arab Muslim scientists in the development of this important specialty.

Baghdad, Cordoba, and Gondishapur were the main centers for high medical knowledge, legislation of medical conduct, authoring and translation from Greek and other medical references especially in Baghdad from the 7th to 10th Centuries with the support of Abbasid Caliphs.

The master scientists set principles for proper psychiatric practice differentiating it from witchcraft and sorcery as recommended by Ibn Omran, Al Razi, Ibn Sinaa, Al-Baghdady and Ibn Masawaiyh, who described the symptoms and treatment of melancholy and hysteria in a scientific way comparable to contemporary medicine focusing on the effect of emotional factors causing somatic symptoms.

The Al Razi books (AlHawi and Almansouri) and Ibn Sinaa (Alcanon) had the biggest impact on the development of Medieval medicine in Europe, both had published many papers exploring anxiety, depression and psychosomatic disorders.

In his literature, Al Balkhi mentioned the causes of obsessions and panic attacks recommending self-suggestions, reassurance from others, and using sub-conscious defense mechanisms.

These luminaries invented music and entertainment therapy for mentally ill patients in Baghdad’s hospitals.