Clinical Psychology - the History and Evolving Nature of Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology

The history and evolving nature of clinical psychology will be out lined below, starting with the ancient Greek's concept that that the there is a connection between the mind and body. Treating mental illness over history has not always been scientific; psychology has evolved with research into the brain, how it functions, and the relationship with the body. Clinical psychology has contributed to this process through research, and experiments that after validation with statistics is used in treatment. Clinical psychology has contributed too many different academic fields of study and professions that can be practiced including psychological research, consulting, and teaching.

The History and Evolving Nature of Clinical Psychology

The history and evolving nature of clinical psychology may have started with the first human that wondered why a person thinks or behaves in a certain manner. Early writings of the Greek civilization showed their interest in the social, mind, and body connection with illness. Together, the Greeks developed a remarkably holistic perspective in which we can see many of the roots of our current beliefs on mind and body interactions in mental and physical illness (Plante, 2011). The Middle Ages brought ideas of its own, the beliefs of mind and body connection with illness took on a more spiritual view, health, and mental illness was related to the influence of witches, sin, and demon possession. Instead of the holistic perspective of the Greeks in the Middle Ages religious rituals were used to exorcise demons, break spells, and atone for sins to heal the mind and body. At this time there were some historical names such as Bishop Nicolas Oresme and St. Thomas Aquinas suggested that mental illness can be diseased based instead of spiritual flaws through their writings and that the soul could not become ill.

The Renaissance brought different views that turned the body to a more scientific thought and the soul to religion and philosophy. With scientific observation of the human body after death Giovanni Battista Morgagni learned that diseased organs in the body could cause death. The mentally ill were confined to asylums and received treated inhumanly still viewed as evil. The Nineteenth Century brought the first psychiatry text suggesting the mind could cause disease, blindness, and paralysis. These new beliefs led to improved treatment of the mentally ill referred to as moral therapy. Without a connection of physical causes for other illnesses such as high blood pressure and ulcers one of the answers was psychological. The Western concept supported by medical research in the body and mind connection brought another change, a new belief that led to clinical psychology, observing human behavior in a clinical setting.

Clinical psychology became a discipline of psychology in 1896; Wilhelm Wundt was the first to combine individual problems with the principles of human behavior, by diagnosis, and treatment. Wundt took psychology clinic a step further he added treatment to assessing clients, creating a system that has supported the military, education system, and criminal justice system. Wundt took psychology clinic a step further he added treatment to assessing clients, creating a system that has supported the military, education system, and criminal justice system. For example, he favored a diagnostic evaluation prior to offering treatment procedures and services. He favored a multidisciplinary team approach as opposed to individual consultation. He used interventions and diagnostic strategies based on research evidence. Finally, he was interested in preventing problems before they emerged (Plante, 2011).

The Role of Research and Statistics in Clinical Psychology

Research and statistics are the foundation of clinical psychology, theories presented have to be researched through this research a theory can be validated or not.

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