Anti-psychotic drugs introduced for treatment of psychosis. First anti-psychotic drug, chlorpromazine (Thorazine).
Anti-psychotic drugs introduced for treatment of psychosis. First anti-psychotic drug, chlorpromazine (Thorazine).
In 1955, there were 560,000 patients in state psychiatric hospitals. The advent of anti-psychotic drugs makes it possible for a dramatic reduction in state hospital populations.
Anti-psychotic drugs introduce new problem: sometimes serious side effects
Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz publishes The Myth of Mental Illness, which argues that schizophrenia is not a disease but a reasonable adaptation to a mad world
Psychiatrist Thomas Szasz publishes The Myth of Mental Illness, which argues that schizophrenia is not a disease but a reasonable adaptation to a mad world
Sociologist Erving Goffman’s book, Asylums, argues that many, if not most, symptoms in patients who have been in psychiatric hospitals for long periods are induced by the institution itself (institutionalization).
Ken Kesey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, based on his experiences working in a VA Hospital psychiatric ward, is made into an influential movie starring Jack Nicholson as a rebellious patient who appears to be saner than the staff.
Ken Kesey’s novel, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, based on his experiences working in a VA Hospital psychiatric ward, is made into an influential movie starring Jack Nicholson as a rebellious patient who appears to be saner than the staff.
Deinstitutionalization: number of institutionalized mentally ill people in the US drops from 560,000 to 130,000 by 1980.
Deinstitutionalization: number of institutionalized mentally ill people in the US drops from 560,000 to 130,000 by 1980.
Deinstitutionalization possible because anti-psychotic drugs control symptoms, but long-term institutionalized people need ongoing mental health treatment and an array of social services that are not uniformly available.
Results: homelessness, “revolving door syndrome,” concern in the community about discharged patients
Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act passes, providing federal money to develop a network of community mental health centers.
Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act passes, providing federal money to develop a network of community mental health centers.
Note that this occurs after deinstitutionalization was well underway.
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill founded—provides support, advocacy, research for people with serious psychiatric illness.
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill founded—provides support, advocacy, research for people with serious psychiatric illness.
New generation of anti-psychotic drugs introduced—clozapine, etc.
New generation of anti-psychotic drugs introduced—clozapine, etc.
Drugs appear to be more effective and have fewer side effects
Survey of American jails finds that 7% of inmates (100,000) are seriously mentally ill
Survey of American jails finds that 7% of inmates (100,000) are seriously mentally ill
Most of these individuals receive little, if any, treatment
