Introduction A mental disorder is an illness that is characterized by an abnormal development. The patient may become distressed or subjected to some kind of disability. The patient suffering from such a disorder may portray abnormal character in their behavior hence leading to the patient being rendered harmful to the community. Mental disorders dates back over million years ago. Previous study indicates that the western cultures developed a belief that the patient could be possessed by either a good or bad spirit. The behavior or speech of the patient was assessed to determine the kind of spirit that had possessed him. If for example the patient behaved in a religious manner and exhibited some mystical signs that seem to have significance, he won the people’s admiration. On the contrary, if the patient seemed to be engaged in evil activities, the community shunned him. The religious leaders treated the particular patient by casting out the evil spirit, a process known as exorcism. Historical View Of Maltreatment Of Psychiatric Patients The early medicine men attempted to treat all the disorders depending on the behavior exhibited by the patient. As earlier mentioned, the primary source of treating mental disorders was through exorcisms and witchcraft. The clergy treated the patient by praying for the patient and using holy water to drive out the evil spirits. Most of the patients during the middle ages were accused on engaging themselves in witchcraft which led them to be killed. These kinds of maltreatment triggered a movement towards the end of the Middle Age period to abolish the treatment criteria used on the ground of humanitarian interests. The main reason for coming up with the movement was to challenge the superstitious beliefs in the western culture. Therapeutic treatment of mental illness began to be understood at the humanitarian level. The physicians insisted that mental disorder was a disease and not a possession. In the 16 th century, special refuge centers known as asylums were set up to cater for the mentally ill patients. The asylums were primarily meant for isolating the patients from the community. They did not serve as hospitals and the patients were required to choose normalcy over insanity. The mode of treatment thereby administered was aggressive as an attempt to maintain a balance in the body and brain of the patient. The patient was intimidated by bleeding, use of strong drugs aimed at calming the nerves or even using electric shocks. The Maltreatments Of Inpatients During The 18 th and 19 th Centuries A clear understanding of mental disorder has not been smooth over the years. This has been attributed to factors such as social, religious and economic issues that have played a significant role in the maltreatment of the inpatients. The western culture for example was characterized by various treatments being administered on the patients suffering from mental disorders. The mental institutions set up to take care of the mentally ill were run by unprofessionals. The medics or psychiatrists during this period played a very small role in the management of these institutions. The care providers at the time treated the patients