Dr. Espí Forcén is Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL. Dr. Hatters Friedman is the Phillip J. Resnick Professor of Forensic Psychiatry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH.
J Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 2021 Mar;49(1):107-114. doi: 10.29158/JAAPL.200052-20. Epub 2020 Nov 27.
The Spanish Inquisition was founded in 1478 by the Catholic monarchs and operated with the goal of controlling heresy in society. Religion was omnipresent, and Jewish (Jews who had converted to Christianity) who continued to observe Jewish practices were many of the accused. In cases in which the defendant was thought to have mental illness, the Inquisition's physicians were to evaluate the person and provide reports and expert evidence. Those defendants who were found to have genuine mental illness were generally freed or transferred to specific hospitals for those with mental illness. Case examples elucidate the methods used by the Spanish Inquisition physicians to differentiate mental illness from malingering and heresy. Physicians also treated inmates and participated in evaluations regarding the appropriateness of torture. Understanding the events of the Spanish Inquisition and the role of physicians holds relevance for contemporary forensic psychiatry.
西班牙宗教裁判所成立于 1478 年，由天主教君主设立，其目的是控制社会中的异端邪说。宗教无处不在，许多被指控的人是继续遵守犹太教习俗的犹太人（已经改信基督教的犹太人）。在被告被认为患有精神疾病的情况下，宗教裁判所的医生将对该人进行评估，并提供报告和专家证据。那些被发现确实患有精神疾病的被告通常会被释放或转移到专门的精神病院。案例说明了西班牙宗教裁判所医生用来区分精神疾病、装病和异端邪说的方法。医生还治疗囚犯，并参与关于酷刑是否适当的评估。了解西班牙宗教裁判所的事件和医生的角色与当代法医精神病学有关。
