alienist
Old-term for psychiatrist
An alienist is an old-fashioned term for a psychiatrist, used especially in legal contexts where mental competence is at issue.
The word comes from an older sense of alienation meaning mental derangement—the mind alienated from itself.
The defense called an alienist to testify that the accused was not responsible for his actions.
The term was common in the 19th and early 20th centuries but has been largely replaced by psychiatrist.
Shelter from persecution
- madhouseChaotic, disordered place
- lunaticDeranged or irrational person
- insanitySevere mental illness
- VictorianOf a prim era
melancholia · neurasthenia · phrenology · mesmerism · hydrotherapy · sanatorium · rest cure · hysteria
Sworn statement as evidence
- insanity defensePlea citing mental incapacity
- competencySufficient ability for something
- criminalPerson who breaks laws
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
expert witness · evaluation · dangerousness · culpability · legal · mental state · court-appointed · examination
Mental disorder physician
- psychologistMental behavior specialist
- therapistMental health practitioner
- mental illnessDisorder affecting cognition or mood
- diagnosisIdentification of illness
treatment · patient · psychoanalysis · Freudian · neurosis · psychosis · consultation · practitioner
asylum
Shelter from persecution
Victorian · melancholia · neurasthenia · phrenology · mesmerism · hydrotherapy · sanatorium · rest cure · hysteria · shell shock
testimony
Sworn statement as evidence
- insanity defensePlea citing mental incapacity
- competencySufficient ability for something
- criminalPerson who breaks laws
courtroom · expert witness · evaluation · dangerousness · culpability · legal · mental state · court-appointed · examination · defendant
psychiatrist
Mental disorder physician
- psychologistMental behavior specialist
- therapistMental health practitioner
- mental illnessDisorder affecting cognition or mood
diagnosis · treatment · patient · psychoanalysis · Freudian · neurosis · psychosis · consultation · practitioner · specialist
- Psychology HistoryFreud, Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, Jung, William James
- asylumsinsane asylum, lunatic asylum, madhouse, mental institution, psychiatric hospital
- Old Healershealer, physician, surgeon, apothecary, midwife
alienistpatient
Able to wait calmly
inmate · lunatic · madman · mental patient · layperson
alienistpsychiatrist
Mental disorder physician
therapist · psychotherapist · psychologist · clinical psychologist · psychoanalyst
alienistgeneral practitioner
Primary care doctor
family doctor · surgeon · physician · internist · layperson
alien, alienate, alienation, alienated, realignment, realign, inalienable, alienating, alienates