What types of behaviour and thought have been labeled as mad by societies in the past? How did those who were identified as mad experience their lives? Does madness arise from internal (bodily, genetic, mental) or external (environmental) causes? This module examines the many types of deviant behaviour which have been identified as manifestations of madness from the ancient world to the present. We study the social and intellectual history of insanity, focusing on topics such as demonic possession, melancholia, asylums, criminal insanity, schizophrenia, the anti-psychiatry movement and other themes related to the history of madness. We will discuss the topic from the perspectives of both doctors and sufferers. The module is designed to provide students with an overview of the main themes in the field and with the analytical tools to engage in a critical interpretation of the subject.