Trepanation: Drilling for Sanity
A Hole in the Head
One of the most ancient and bizarre treatments, trepanation, saw a resurgence in some 20th-century European asylums. This involved drilling holes into a patient’s skull to “release evil spirits.” Unsurprisingly, this often resulted in infections, brain damage, and, in many cases, death. It was a gruesome and ineffective practice that highlighted the extremes of psychiatric desperation.
Fatal Consequences
The procedure of trepanation often led to dire consequences. Patients subjected to this medieval treatment frequently suffered from severe infections, irreversible brain damage, or immediate death. The supposed benefits of releasing evil spirits were nonexistent, and the practice only served to further harm already vulnerable individuals.
