Mental: A History of the Madhouse

Up until recent history, psychiatric hospitals were hellish places where folks often languished for decades. This film, despite the title, is about the bad old days of psychiatric hospitalization in the UK during most of the 20th century. Such horrid practices as Electroconvulsive Therapy* (Etc), lobotomies, other forms of brain surgery and abuse of patients abounded...as well as the unhealthy atmosphere of the locked wards. The film then discusses the gradual improvement--such as unlocking ward doors, the use of more effective drug therapies and de-institutionalization. The overall film is rather depressing though by the end of the film there is some hope as well as things have improved considerably.

While this film isn't perfect, it's very well made and patient- centered. My only gripes are that it talks about how rotten things were but never gives the context. In other words, there simply was no effective treatment known up until the 1940s and beyond. Still, for psychology students and the public, this is an effective program and well worth seeing.

*Despite its horrible reputation, Etc is still used, sparingly, today. However, it's reserved for patients that don't respond to therapy or drugs. Additionally, it's much more humane. The patient is sedated and the shock is given once they are put under. Additionally, the voltage and duration of the shocks is much lower. The film never mentioned this...and I think it's important omission as folks today see it as a godsend.