Alienism is an obsolete term for psychiatry, the study and treatment of mental illnesses. An alienist was essentially a psychiatrist.

Why are psychiatrists called Alienists?

In regards to etymology, alienist comes from the Latin word for other – alius – which then took on a new meaning as language evolved over time. … Aliene led to the word alieniste, a doctor who treated those with mental health problems. It’s thought that the English word alienist was derived from the French term.

What did Alienists do?

Starting around the mid-nineteenth century, psychiatrists were referred to as “alienists.” It was the alienist’s job to study, understand, care for, and assist patients in overcoming their “mental alienation” or illness.