The book, written by the outstanding Russian scientist Yu. V. Kannabikh, examines the full history of the development of world psychiatry from Antiquity to the beginning of the 20th century. Data on the formation of psychiatry, narcology, psychotherapy and clinical psychology are presented, the issue of attitudes towards psychological diseases on the part of society and the emergence of psychiatric hospitals are considered in detail. Special attention is paid to the history of the development of psychiatry in Russia, the mutual influence of world and Russian practice of treating mental disorders.