American madness : the rise and fall of dementia praecox

2012 BMA Medical Book Award, Highly Commended in Psychiatry, British Medical Association 2012 Cheiron Book Prize, Cheiron, International Society for the History of the Behavioral and Social Sciences In 1895 there was not a single case of dementia praecox reported in the United States. By 1912 there were tens of thousands of people with this diagnosis locked up in asylums, hospitals, and jails. By 1927 it was fading away . How could such a terrible disease be discovered, affect so many lives, and then turn out to be something else? In vivid detail, Richard Noll describes how the discovery of this mysterious disorder gave hope to the overworked asylum doctors that they could at last explain--though they could not cure--the miserable patients surrounding them. The story of dementia praecox, and its eventual replacement by the new concept of schizophrenia, also reveals how asylum physicians fought for their own respectability. If what they were observing was a disease, then this biological reality was amenable to scientific research. In the early twentieth century, dementia praecox was psychiatry's key into an increasingly science-focused medical profession. But for the moment, nothing could be done to help the sufferers. When the concept of schizophrenia offered a fresh understanding of this disorder, and hope for a cure, psychiatry abandoned the old disease for the new. In this dramatic story of a vanished diagnosis, Noll shows the co-dependency between a disease and the scientific status of the profession that treats it. The ghost of dementia praecox haunts today's debates about the latest generation of psychiatric disorders. In 1895 There Was Not A Single Case Of Dementia Praecox Reported In The United States. By 1912 There Were Tens Of Thousands Of People With This Diagnosis Locked Up In Asylums, Hospitals, And Jails. By 1927 It Was Fading Away. How Could Such A Terrible Disease Be Discovered, Affect So Many Lives, And Then Turn Out To Be Something Else? Describes How The Discovery Of This Mysterious Disorder Gave Hope To The Overworked Asylum Doctors That They Could At Last Explain, Though They Could Not Cure, The Miserable Patients Surrounding Them. The Story Of Dementia Praecox, And Its Eventual Replacement By The New Concept Of Schizophrenia, Also Reveals How Asylum Physicians Fought For Their Own Respectability. If What They Were Observing Was A Disease, Then This Biological Reality Was Amenable To Scientific Research. In The Early Twentieth Century, Dementia Praecox Was Psychiatry's Key Into An Increasingly Science-focused Medical Profession. But For The Moment, Nothing Could Be Done To Help The Sufferers. When The Concept Of Schizophrenia Offered A Fresh Understanding Of This Disorder, And Hope For A Cure, Psychiatry Abandoned The Old Disease For The New. Noll Shows The Co-dependency Between A Disease And The Scientific Status Of The Profession That Treats It. The Ghost Of Dementia Praecox Haunts Today's Debates About The Latest Generation Of Psychiatric Disorders. From Publisher Description. The World Of The American Alienist, 1896 -- Adolf Meyer Brings Dementia Praecox To America -- Emil Kraepelin -- The American Reception Of Dementia Praecox And Manic -- Depressive Insanity, 1896-1905 -- The Lost Biological Psychiatry -- The Rise Of The Mind-twist Men, 1903-1913 -- Bayard Taylor Holmes And Radically Rational Treatments -- The Rise Of Schizophrenia In America, 1912-1927. Richard Noll. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Contents 7 Introduction 9 1. The World of the American Alienist, 1896 19 2. Adolf Meyer Brings Dementia Praecox to America 44 3. Emil Kraepelin 57 4. The American Reception of Dementia Praecox and Manic Depressive Insanity, 1896– 1905 82 5. The Lost Biological Psychiatry 117 6. The Rise of the Mind Twist Men, 1903– 1913 157 7. Bayard Taylor Holmes and Radically Rational Treatments 202 8. The Rise of Schizophrenia in America, 1912– 1927 240 Epilogue 284 Notes 297 Acknowledgments 387 Index 391

In 1895 not a single case of dementia praecox was reported in the United States. By 1912 tens of thousands of people with this diagnosis were locked up in asylums, hospitals, and jails. By 1927 it was fading away. This book explains how such a terrible disease could be discovered, affect so many lives, and then turn out to be something else.