Introduction

Methods for treating mental illness have improved significantly since the period when bleeding, trephining, and exorcism were used. Current methods are far more humane. Although no one method is best for treating mental illness, some health care practitioners believe most problems can be solved through psychoanalysis. Other practitioners may predominantly use behavioural therapy combined with medication. Although one treatment method may be used successfully with one person, it may not achieve the same results if used with a second person having the same disorder. Mental illnesses are complex, and so, the treatment of mental illness is best approached with an open mind and eclectic view. If one form of treatment is not working, health care practitioners and their patients may need to try another approach. What follows is a partial sampling of the various treatment methods available to individuals.