De la bruja “pecadora” a la bruja “demente”

The case of what happened with witchcraft and sorcery between the 14th and 18th centuries is paradigmatic when it comes to understanding the evolution of the consideration of crime as a mental illness between the 19th and 20th centuries. Witchcraft went from being considered as an exceptional crime very difficult to prove by conventional means, requiring a special procedure for its clarification, to becoming a medical problem centered in the search for diabolical stigmata, and even encouraged by possible situations of drugs consumption. From there to the falsely humanitarian consideration of witches as crazy persons, with the great sociopolitical and religious advantages that derived from this, there was only one step. The logical consequence of this perspective was the consideration of crime and social exclusion as public health problems and, therefore, transform them in matters of medical, psychiatric and hygienic issues. A history that should not be lost sight at present times. The new accusatory and stigmatizing public policies in relation to the treatment of those who do not fit into the general social picture can, as well, be considered like a new chapter of this issue of deep historical significance.