The Hidden Psychiatry of the Old Testament

The Old Testament is the primary religious text for the Jewish people and also forms a major part of the sacred texts of Christianity. The Old Testament covers not only the religion of the ancient Israelites, but also gives a detailed account of their secular life, which naturally includes their mental health issues. Most of the common major psychiatric disorders are well represented, and there are several descriptions of depression. The verses of the Old Testament were all written with a primary religious intention, but sometimes, almost incidentally, they include mentions of familiar mental symptoms. This becomes clear only when all the religion, history and myth are stripped away from them – hence the title The Hidden Psychiatry of the Old Testament.