Early intervention for incipient insanity: early notions from the 19thcentury English literature.
Early intervention programmes in mental illnesses started to bloom in the 1990s, and many programmes have been established worldwide during the past twenty years. However, the concept of early intervention has emerged during the 19th century but it did not make much impact on practice. The aim of this review is to identify the difficulties appeared during that period of time which could provide insight into the modern development of early intervention initiatives.



A narrative review which focused on English literature about early intervention for insanity during the 19th century was undertaken.



Clinicians during the 19th century recognized that treatment would be the most effective at the early stage of the mental illness and they had emphasized the importance of early intervention. However, because of a number of factors, such as the limited roles of asylums, lack of knowledge about mental disorder and the lack of effective treatment, the idea of early intervention did not make impact in clinical service during that period of time.



During the past two hundred years, understanding towards mental illness has advanced and more effective treatments, such as the use of anti-psychotic medications, have been developed. Reflecting on the past experience and difficulties might shed light on the development of today early intervention in mental disorder.
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Hang Sze
HS
Chau
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Wai Sun
WS
Chong
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Josephine Grace Wing San
JGWS
Wong
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Gabriel Bing Kei
GBK
Hung
Department of Psychiatry, Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong.
Simon Sai Yu
SSY
Lui
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Sherry Kit Wa
SKW
Chan
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Wing Chung
WC
Chang
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Christy Lai Ming
CLM
Hui
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Edwin Ho Ming
EHM
Lee
Department of Psychiatry, ORYGEN Research Centre, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Patrick D
PD
McGorry
Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
Peter B
PB
Jones
Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Eric Yu Hai
EYH
Chen
D061345:Early Medical Intervention / Q000266:history*; D049672:History, 19th Century; D006801:Humans; D066291:Psychiatry in Literature; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000266:history* / Q000628:therapy*
concepts; early intervention; history; psychopathology