Neuropsychiatric Perspectives on Unmada: Reinterpreting Charaka Samhita in the Light of Contemporary Psychiatry

Abstract

Unmada, as described in Charaka Samhita, represents a comprehensive model of mental illness encompassing disturbances in intellect, cognition, memory, perception, behaviour, and emotional functioning. Objective: Reinterpret the concept of Unmada described in Charaka Samhita through the lens of contemporary psychiatry and neuroscience. Materials and Methods: A narrative integrative review was conducted using classical Ayurvedic literature, primarily Charaka Samhita (Nidana Sthana and Chikitsa Sthana), along with Chakrapanidatta's Ayurveda Dipika commentary. Contemporary scientific literature was retrieved from PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, World Health Organization (WHO) publications, DSM-5-TR, and standard psychiatry textbooks. Classical concepts including Nidana, Samprapti, Lakshana, classification, and Chikitsa of Unmada were systematically analysed. Results: Charaka describes Unmada as a multidimensional disorder involving disturbances of Manas, Buddhi, Samjna, Gyana, Smriti, Bhakti, Sheela, Cheshta, and Achara, arising from the interaction of dietary, psychological, behavioural, and constitutional factors. Several classical concepts, including Dhee Vibhrama, Smriti Vibhrama, Manobhighata, Alpa Satva, and Viruddha Ahara, demonstrated meaningful conceptual convergence with contemporary neuropsychiatric constructs such as executive dysfunction, cognitive impairment, stress-induced neurobiological alterations, psychological vulnerability, neuroinflammation, and the gut–brain axis. Conclusion: The Ayurvedic concept of Unmada provides a sophisticated biopsychological framework that remains conceptually relevant in the context of contemporary psychiatry. Reinterpreting classical Ayurvedic knowledge alongside modern neuroscience fosters a more integrative understanding of mental illness and may contribute to future interdisciplinary research.