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Psychiatric History: From Sanctuary to Stigma

By Mohammed looti / / 1 min read
Scientifically Reviewed · Dr. Marwa Abd-Alazim · August 30, 2026
Medically & Scientifically Reviewed Verified: August 30, 2026
Dr. Marwa Abd-Alazim PhD in Psychology
Faculty Member • University of Kerbala
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This content undergoes rigorous scientific peer-review and medical editorial standards at Arab Psychology Network to ensure clinical accuracy, validity, and compliance with evidence-based guidelines from leading psychological and healthcare authorities (APA / WHO).

Psychiatric History: From Sanctuary to Stigma
CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

n. originally, these structures were designed as a refuge for criminals (from Greek asylon, sanctuary). From the 19th century onwards, the terms asylum or insane asylum were applied to mental institutions, which housed people with intellectual disabilities and serious mental illness. These names are now obsolete, and have discarded because of their emphasis on negative consequences.

ASYLUM: “A person who resided in an asylum historically was either a criminal or suffered serious mental illness.”
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About the Author: Mohammed looti

An academic and researcher specialized in educational psychology and a faculty member at the University of Kerbala. He holds a PhD in his field, and his research interests center on positive psychology, the development of psychological scales, and cognitive emotion regulation. Dr. Looti is distinguished by his contemporary research approach, focusing on the psychological effects of modern technology and artificial intelligence on mental health and identity formation among young people. His scholarly contributions also extend to studying the dynamics of family communication and its role in building self-efficacy and leadership skills, in addition to his research on mindfulness programs and psychological recovery — making him an active researcher enriching the field of educational and applied psychology.

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Cite This Article

looti, M. (2026, August 30). Psychiatric History: From Sanctuary to Stigma. Encyclopedia of psychology. https://encyclopedia.arabpsychology.com/asylum/
looti, Mohammed. “Psychiatric History: From Sanctuary to Stigma.” Encyclopedia of psychology, 30 August 2026, https://encyclopedia.arabpsychology.com/asylum/.
looti, Mohammed. “Psychiatric History: From Sanctuary to Stigma.” Encyclopedia of psychology. August 30, 2026. https://encyclopedia.arabpsychology.com/asylum/.

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