Bloody Mary: History of Mental Asylums

The earliest recorded Mental Asylum in the UK was the Bethlem Royal Hospital located in London, built during 1247 but it didn't tend to the mentally ill until 1407. This was only the very early stages of Lunatic Asylums, doctors had very little care for the well-being of their patients and treated them as they pleased, only in 1774 were laws created protecting the patients. Though mass construction of Mental Asylum's didn't come about until mid 1800's due to dramatic changes in the law proving them to be safer then previous years.

During the early years of mass construction, the asylums were kept under strict lock down and patients were watched constantly to make sure of no escapes. Patients were encouraged to work doing chores for the benefit of the hospital such as farming and laundry, though those deemed to unstable and dangerous were housed in locked cells and on occasion in padded cells.

Treatments used in Asylums have greatly varied throughout it's existence, constantly changing and evolving when new breakthroughs occurred, in the beginning there was little known about psychiatric conditions and how to treat them. It became common that patients were occupied to help them remain calm and distracted, if patients resisted and caused problems then restraints were used. It wasn't until the 1930's that two major treatments were developed in Europe, One being Electroconvulsive Therapy and the other being the Lobotomy, both of which involved work to the brain. Electroconvulsive Therapy involves passing a current of electricity through the patient's brain, inducing an epileptic fit and was commonly known to cause injuries to the patient. It was proved as very effective for patients with severe depression. Lobotomies involved cutting into the tissue of the frontal lobes of the brain, it had mixed results and was quickly discontinued.

In the past, aggressive and suicidal patients were dealt with through restraints and padded cells, these measures were taken so they could not harm themselves or others. The restraints most commonly used were the Straight Jacker and Fingerless Gloves, both of which inhibited the movement of the patient. It was less common that other forms were used such as continuous baths and bed restraints. In the early years, restraints were very common but became limited after changes to the law, use of restraints had to be approved by a medical officer.

Why is this important?

As I've mentioned in my previous posts, I am very interested in involving Mental Asylums in my final ideas and designs, so only by researching into the conditions patients are kept under and treatments they undergo can I involve my ideas and successfully involve them in the final look. I have gathered a lot of information and think it can provide me with some solid facts to support my ideas.

Reference:

http://www.bethlemheritage.org.uk/explorebethlem/FLOORPLAN.ASP
http://www.thetimechamber.co.uk/beta/sites/asylums/asylum-history/the-history-of-the-asylum
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/themes/menalhealthandillness/mentalinstitutions.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobotomy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Medical_restraint