There was no cure. We haven't started diagnosing mentally ill people until recent time. Around 100 years. But as you know the last 30 years mental illness has really come into the spotlight. Which I think is great! But before 1900, if you had a mental condition, then you would die with that condition. Sure you can look back in history and see some cultures giving people certain flowers and trying different processes such as trying to sweat it out. But we haven't really truly known a lot about the brain until recent time.