MIRECC / CoE

It is widely believed that mental health problems are supernatural events caused by evil spirits.

The Greek physician, Hippocrates, believes mental illness is caused by "humors,"" or body fluids, that become unbalanced. Treatment involves removing one of these fluids to balance them.

The Muslim physician, Ahmed ibn Sahl al-Balkhi, introduces the concept of mental health and the idea that mental illness can have both psychological and/or biological causes. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the health of the body and soul and criticizes medical doctors for paying too much attention to physical illness. Around this same time, the Persian physician, Abu Bakr Mohammed ibn Zakariya al-Razi, introduces the importance of treating patients with respect and kindness.

Over time, societies come to view mental illnesses as long-lasting, chronic problems. Inpatient mental health facilities are built to house persons with mental illness.

With limited treatments available, early attempts at brain surgery, such as the "lobotomy," are introduced to treat certain mental health conditions. The lobotomy is ended or prohibited in numerous countries beginning in the mid-1900s.

Sigmund Freud spreads the idea that mental illness can be treated. He develops the first type of "talk" therapy, known as "psychoanalysis." This treatment is based on the idea that unconscious thoughts and memories contribute to mental health problems. Treatment focuses on early childhood experiences and on the interpretation of dreams as a window to the unconscious mind.

Medications become available to help symptoms of certain mental health problems. During this time, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), which involves sending small electric currents through the brain, is introduced as a treatment for very severe mental health conditions.

The talk therapies, Cognitive Therapy and Behavior Therapy (see 1960s-1970s), are combined to form Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (or "C-B-T"). CBT focuses on changing thoughts and behaviors that affect how we feel. Also during this time, a new type of medication for depression, called "selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)," becomes available. These include medications like Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil.

Research on the talk therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT; see 1980s-1990s), explodes. Studies show CBT is effective for many different mental health problems, including depression, PTSD, insomnia, and substance use conditions. Talk therapies, like CBT, that are effective in multiple studies are called "evidence-based psychotherapies."

To make proven talk therapies, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT; see 1990s-2000s), available to Veterans, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) trains more than 10,000 VA providers in how to deliver these treatments. Health care systems in other countries, including Great Britain and Australia, also train large numbers of providers to deliver these therapies.

Many Veterans who receive proven talk therapies, like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (see 1980s-1990s), show real improvements! Yet, many Veterans do not know they exist. This website is created as a public resource to spread the word so that more Vets know their options and ask for these treatments!