Despite the efforts of activists, asylum opened in the United States suffered also from hygienic issues and inhumane treatments of patients. It wasn't until 1983 that large asylums were closed (deinstitutionalization began) and alternative measures in helping and treating mental health problems were being considered.

Asylum in the United States

Dorothea Dix and Prison Reform

In the 19th century, Dorothea Dix spearheaded significant mental health care reforms in the United States. After investigating the conditions for the mentally ill and poor, she uncovered a system rife with abuse that was both underfunded and unregulated. Motivated by these discoveries, Dix began lobbying state legislatures and the U.S. Congress, which successfully led to the establishment of the country's first mental asylums.

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- Exorcism
- Trephining
- Imprisonment and isolation
- Torture and death
- Asylum
- La Salpêtrière
- Dorothea Dix

Mental Health Treatment and Intervention in the Past

Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020, April 22). Psychology (2nd ed.). OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/1-introduction

OpenStax Psychology (2nd ed.) Textbook

Exorcism was a common historical treatment for mental illness, based on the belief that the individual was possessed by spirits. This treatment was typically performed by priests or other religious figures and involved practices such as saying incantations and prayers over the person's body. In some cases, medicinal drinks were also administered as part of the ritual to release the spirits.

Exorcism as Mental Health Treatment

Trephining was a drastic historical treatment used for extreme cases of mental illness. The procedure involved making a small hole in the afflicted person's skull, with the goal of releasing the spirits believed to be causing the illness. This dangerous practice frequently resulted in the patient's death.

Trephining as Mental Health Treatment

Due to widespread misunderstanding and cruel attitudes in the past, individuals with psychological disorders were often subjected to harsh treatments beyond medical procedures. These practices included imprisonment or being cast out from society to become homeless beggars.

Imprisonment and Isolation as Mental Health Treatment

Historically, the misunderstanding of mental illness led to extreme and fatal practices. In addition to dangerous procedures like trephining, individuals with psychological disorders could face execution as a form of 'treatment' or punishment.

Torture and Death as Mental Health Treatment

Beginning in the 18th century, asylums were established as the first institutions specifically for individuals with psychological disorders. However, their primary function was to isolate these individuals from the community rather than to provide treatment. The conditions within these asylums were often brutal; patients were frequently confined to windowless dungeons, subjected to beatings, chained to beds, and received minimal or no interaction with caregivers.

Asylum used in Treating Mental Health Problems in the 18th Century

You can learn more about the timeline of mental health treatment in the United States here: https://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/37146/A-History-of-Mental-Institutions-in-the-United-States/#vars!date=1810-07-03_14:51:59!

Mental Health Treatment in the United States: Timeline

The 'Extraction of the Stone of Madness,' a subject depicted in historical art, represents an early and misguided approach to treating mental illness. This concept was based on the belief that insanity was caused by a physical object—a 'stone'—in the head, which could be surgically removed to cure the patient.

The Extraction of the Stone of Madness

In 1795, French physician Philippe Pinel initiated a significant reform in mental health care at the La Salpêtrière hospital in Paris. He advocated for and implemented more humane treatment methods, which involved unchaining patients and engaging them in conversation. This compassionate approach proved beneficial, leading to the recovery and subsequent release of many patients from the institution.

Philippe Pinel's Humane Treatment Reforms at La Salpêtrière

Dorothea Dix

Given the historical scenario below, evaluate the two proposed explanations for the woman's condition. Which explanation and its corresponding 'treatment' would have been more widely accepted in that era? Justify your answer based on the dominant worldview concerning mental illness during that period.

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