Disalienation: Politics, Philosophy, and Radical Psychiatry in Postwar France

During World War II, a psychiatric hospital in Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole resisted the "soft extermination" of patients by the Vichy regime by hoarding food and reevaluating psychiatric care. This movement, known as institutional psychotherapy, had a profound influence on postwar French thought and is explored in Disalienation by Camille Robcis, who considers its historical, intellectual, and psychiatric implications.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 240 pages
\n Publication date: 03 May 2021
\n Publisher: The University of Chicago Press
\n

From 1940 to 1945, a staggering forty thousand patients lost their lives in French psychiatric hospitals, victims of the Vichy regimes "soft extermination" policy. Under these conditions, patients faced agonizing deaths due to cold, starvation, or neglect. However, in the small village of Saint-Alban-sur-Limagnole, located in central France, a remarkable exception emerged. In defiance of the oppressive regime, a psychiatric hospital took a bold stance. With the unwavering support of the local community, the staff at this hospital embarked on a heroic mission: they hoarded food, sparing no effort to keep their patients alive. Beyond survival, they embarked on a transformative journey, reevaluating the very foundations of psychiatric care. This movement, known as institutional psychotherapy, would go on to exert a profound influence on postwar French thought.

In his book "Disalienation," Camille Robcis delves into the profound ethical implications articulated at Saint-Alban by examining the influential thinkers who shaped this movement. Among these figures are François Tosquelles, Frantz Fanon, Félix Guattari, and Michel Foucault. Robcis's study, while centered on the history of one hospital, encompasses a vast geographic context, including revolutionary Spain, occupied France, colonial Algeria, and beyond. It situates the institutional psychotherapy movement within the broader political-economic landscape, from fascism to Stalinism to postwar capitalism.

Through meticulous research and analysis, Robcis sheds light on the ethical principles that guided the staff at Saint-Alban. They challenged the dominant medical model, advocating for a more humanistic and compassionate approach to mental health care. The hospital staff recognized the importance of treating the whole person, encompassing their physical and emotional well-being. They recognized the power of social and cultural factors in shaping mental illness and worked to address the systemic inequalities that perpetuated suffering.

Institutional psychotherapy also pioneered innovative approaches to treatment. The staff at Saint-Alban recognized the value of art therapy, music therapy, and group therapy as means of promoting self-expression, healing, and social connection. They recognized the importance of patient participation and empowerment, fostering a sense of agency and self-determination among their patients.

Robcis's book "Disalienation" is a valuable contribution to the field of history, philosophy, and psychiatry. It offers a nuanced understanding of the historical context in which institutional psychotherapy emerged and its profound impact on postwar French thought. Through the lens of Saint-Alban, Robcis highlights the ethical principles that guided a small group of individuals in their fight for a better future for those suffering from mental illness. His book serves as a reminder of the power of human resilience, compassion, and innovation in the face of adversity.

\n Weight: 346g\n
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 16 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9780226777740\n \n