Archives of Hellenic Medicine

Last update:

06-Jul-2004

Arch Hellen Med, 20(5), September-October 2003, 547-550

HISTORY OF MEDICINE

Psychotherapy in Byzantium

N. THEOCHARAKIS,¹ V. MAVREAS,¹ D. DAMIGOS,¹ A. EFTYCHIADIS,² S. GEROULANOS³
¹Department of Social Psychiatry, Medical School, University of Ioannina
²Department of History of Medicine, Medical School, University of Athens
³Department of History of Medicine, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Greece

The Greek Fathers of the Church, who in the early years of the Byzantium at least, were required to have medical virtues, have the leading role in the treatment of psychological disorders in this era. They dealt with psychotherapy and the doctors dealt with the biological treatment of diseases. The Byzantine model of psychotherapy was based on the backward analysis towards the patient’s childhood for the ascertainment of the origins of the psychological trauma and as part of the patient’s treatment. The treatment based on the part of the psyche which was ill, could be regarded as a total in-depth therapy.

Key words: Byzantium, Mental disease, Passions, Psychotherapy.