Early Psychiatric Institutions in Munich

Abstract

Psychiatry did not become a medical discipline until the end of the 18^th century and before this time the mentally ill, if at all, were isolated as »mentally disturbed« in prison-like asylums and mad houses. They were even kept in penitentiaries and mad houses together with common criminals where no medical attention was available. There were, however, a few exceptions to the usual practise of isolation and discrimination of the »mentally disturbed« in Germany, such as at the Julius Hospital in Wurzburg and, understandably, the Julius Hospital was considered one of the first medical institutions in the Free State of Bavaria, where the mentally ill were given medical care. The Julius Hospital was built in 1576 during the reign of the prince bishop Julius Echter von Mespelbrunn. Right from the beginning of its existence, 30 to 40 psychiatric patients were admitted for care.