Anxiety disorders in ancient Indian literature. 2010

Hitesh C Sheth, and Zindadil Gandhi, and G K Vankar
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital for Mental Health, Vikas Gruh Road, Jamnagar, Gujarat, India.

In western literature, the oldest description of symptoms of PTSD, an anxiety group of disorder, is seen in Homer's Iliad written around 720 BC. According to Shay, Achilles was suffering from symptoms of PTSD. However, in the Indian literature it was mentioned around 5000 BC. The description of a PTSD-like syndrome is seen in the Ramayana, although it was not described as PTSD or by any other similar name. Ravana's brother Marrich was having symptoms of PTSD after he was grievously hurt by Lord Rama's arrow and was almost dead. This traumatic event threatened his physical integrity. He developed all the symptoms of PTSD, like hyper-arousal, re-experiencing the events and avoidance. He also gave up his natural work of harassing the monk and got engaged in meditation and austerities. His symptoms lasted for many years till Lord Rama killed him, while he was masquerading as a golden deer to deceive Sita. In another ancient epic Shrimad Bhagavatam, Maharshi Ved Vyasa described the symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). The demon King Kansha developed GAD-like symptoms, when Lord Krishna killed all his demons and threatened to kill him. He developed symptoms of GAD, like excessive worry about the attack from his arch foe Krishna, difficulty in concentration and difficulty in falling asleep. Like Marrich, the symptoms of Kansha also lasted until Lord Krishna killed him.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Hitesh C Sheth, and Zindadil Gandhi, and G K Vankar
January 1973, Indian journal of history of science,
Hitesh C Sheth, and Zindadil Gandhi, and G K Vankar
July 1993, Bulletin of the Indian Institute of History of Medicine (Hyderabad),
Hitesh C Sheth, and Zindadil Gandhi, and G K Vankar
January 1967, The Indian journal of chest diseases,
Hitesh C Sheth, and Zindadil Gandhi, and G K Vankar
April 1987, Indian journal of history of science,
Hitesh C Sheth, and Zindadil Gandhi, and G K Vankar
May 2013, Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society,
Hitesh C Sheth, and Zindadil Gandhi, and G K Vankar
November 1966, The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science,
Hitesh C Sheth, and Zindadil Gandhi, and G K Vankar
January 2010, Indian journal of psychiatry,
Hitesh C Sheth, and Zindadil Gandhi, and G K Vankar
January 1991, Ancient science of life,
Hitesh C Sheth, and Zindadil Gandhi, and G K Vankar
March 2006, Journal of biosciences,
Hitesh C Sheth, and Zindadil Gandhi, and G K Vankar
January 1948, Zeitschrift fur Urologie,
Copied contents to your clipboard!