Madness of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln

HISTORY OF MADNESS
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* Introduction
The study of psychiatric and intellectual disability was significantly impacted by the Civil War and World War I, two major conflicts in American history. These wars gave rise to new mental health challenges that required innovative approaches to treatment and rehabilitation. The essay will explore the intersection of these wars with the study of mental health, including the harsh treatment of soldiers with psychiatric and intellectual disabilities during the Civil War and the altered approach towards disabled veterans after World War I. Additionally, the mental health issues of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln will be discussed, along with the importance of continued research into the field.
* The Civil War and Psychiatric/Intellectual Disability
Soldiers who suffered from psychiatric and intellectual disabilities during the Civil War faced significant difficulties unique to their circumstances. Historical records show that there was a lack of understanding and insufficient resources available for individuals with such conditions during that time (Freedman & Ferri, 2017). Unfortunately, soldiers who experienced these disabilities were often stigmatized as "weak" or "cowardly" and subjected to harsh treatment, including discharge from the military or placement in asylums (Freedman and Ferri 2017, 46). Additionally, the medical system was not equipped to adequately address these conditions, resulting in further mistreatment and neglect (Freedman and Ferri, 2017 44).[Freedman, Justin, and Beth A. Ferri. "Locating the problem within Race, learning disabilities, and science." Teachers College Record 119, no. 5 (2017): 1–28.] [Freedman, Justin, and Beth A. Ferri. "Locating the problem within Race, learning disabilities, and science." Teachers College Record 119, no. 5 (2017): 1–28.] [Freedman, Justin, and Beth A. Ferri. "Locating the problem within Race, learning disabilities, and science." Teachers College Record 119, no. 5 (2017): 1–28.]
The Civil War profoundly impacted the treatment of psychiatric and intellectual disabilities. It exposed the urgent need for more effective mental health care, prompting the development of innovative treatments and the establishment of specialized institutions (Blumenthal, 2018). Nevertheless, progress was gradual, and it was not until the 20th century that significant strides were made in this field (Biancone, 2021). The enduring legacy of the Civil War's impact on mental health care underscores the significance of ongoing research and advocacy efforts (Blumenthal, 2018).[Blumenthal, Rachel A. "Mary Todd Lincoln, Elizabeth Keckley, and America's Psychiatric Republic." Literature and Medicine 36, no. 1 (2018): 27–55.] [Biancone, Bella. "Mary Todd Lincoln: Duty and Depression." 2021.] [Blumenthal, Rachel A. "Mary Todd Lincoln, Elizabeth Keckley, and America's Psychiatric Republic." Literature and Medicine 36, no. 1 (2018): 27–55.]
* Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln’s “Madness”
Historians have long debated Abraham Lincoln's mental well-being. Freedman and Ferri (2017) Some scholars speculate Lincoln could have experienced depression or bipolar disorder, while other...