1. History of Mental Illness Treatment in U.S.

2. What is the first thing you think of when you hear the term “mentally ill?”

3. 17th Century People with mental illnesses were compared to animals
It was thought they could not reason
“barely human”

4. 17th c cont’d “treatment” consisted of torture
Doctors thought they could “tame” mentally ill people
Examples: whipping, starving, bleeding…

5. Reform efforts in 18th Century
In U.S. Quakers began reform
No cure
Alternative: make life better
Examples: calm environment, no doctors, no physical violence

6. Reaction to Quakers
Doctors felt threatened esp because Quakers did have success
Next wave in 18th C--explosion psychiatric hospitals
From 18 in 1840 to 139 in 1880
Diverse groups (alcoholics, homosexuals, people w/ STDs) all lumped together

7. “The Darkest Period”
Mentally ill were seen as burden on society
Eugenics movement led to:
Forced commitments to state mental institutions
Laws prohibiting the mentally from:
Marrying
Having children (forcibly sterilized)

8. Treatment in the early 20th century
Insulin coma
Metrozol Convulsive (induced seizures)
Electroshock
Lobotomy (frontal lobes are where higher order processing occurs)
Discovered b/c of Phinneas Gage

9. Reforms after WWII Conscientious Objector service in hospitals
Raised awareness
Hard to forcibly commit
More oversight of hospitals

10. DSM (Diagnostic Statistical Manual)
1st DSM published in 1952
Seeks to distinguish different mental disorders
Most recent DSM IV published in 1994

11. The State of Mental Health Today
Advances in care due:
New drugs with fewer side effects
More knowledge about science of mental illness
Access to care & stigma remain problems