Obsessive compulsive disorder and psychopathic behaviour in Babylon

Area of Science:

• History of Medicine
• Psychology
• Ancient Civilizations

Background:

• The history of obsessive-compulsive, phobic, and psychopathic behaviors is traditionally traced to the 17th century AD.
• This study examines ancient Babylonian medical texts for early descriptions of these behaviors.

Observation:

• The Babylonian cuneiform medical text Shurpu details objective accounts of behaviors now recognized as immature, antisocial, criminal, and obsessional.
• These included categories related to contamination, aggression, orderliness, sex, and religion.
• Subjective experiences like obsessional thoughts were not included in these ancient descriptions.

Findings:

• Babylonian understanding linked these behaviors to the concept of 'māmīt' or 'oath', implying unbreakable habits.
• These descriptions represent the earliest known accounts of such behaviors, dating to the first half of the second millennium BC.
• The Babylonians regarded these behaviors as a 'mystery' despite lacking modern understanding of brain or psychological function.

Implications:

• These findings significantly extend the historical timeline for the study of obsessive-compulsive, phobic, and psychopathic disorders.
• The objective nature of Babylonian descriptions offers a unique perspective on early behavioral observation.
• This research highlights the advanced descriptive capabilities of ancient Babylonian medicine regarding human behavior.