Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal Psychology
10th Edition
ISBN: 9781319066949
Author: Ronald J. Comer, Jonathan S. Comer
Publisher: Worth Publishers
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Chapter 15, Problem 1Q
Summary Introduction

Introduction

In the past, treatment of psychiatric disorders was very different from the treatment approaches followed today. Patients with schizophrenia were subjected to institutionalization, mental and physical abuse, as well as strange treatments and methods.

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One consideration why the patients with schizophrenia were exposed to torturous and inhumane treatment at mental asylums in the past is because of the way mental illness was viewed by people in general. Mental illness was viewed as some form of punishment from God and regarded as deviant behavior. People viewed mentally ill patients with repulsion and negative perception. Therefore, patients with schizophrenia, because of the confusing symptoms, were separated from the society and subjected to institutions. The asylums had lack of basic amenities and a lack of hospital staff to cater to each patient.

Mechanical restraints, chains, straightjackets, and isolated cells were used to control the patient's manic and extremely violent behavior. Nurses and staff members neglected and often mistreated the patients. Lobotomy technique to change people's behavior by removing certain parts of the brain were starting to be used. The bad treatment of patients with schizophrenia can be attributed to the stigma attached to mental illness during that time.

People with schizophrenia were treated badly because people believed they were under the influence of their mental illness and were similar to animals. They were seen as incapable of thinking rationally or control their emotions. Therefore, they subjected those patients to bad treatment and inhumane treatment methods.

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