Hungarian Psychiatry, Society and Politics in the Long Nineteenth Century

This book provides a comprehensive history of Hungarian psychiatry between 1850 and 1920, exploring how psychiatrists organized themselves, defined their field, and became involved in social critique. It also examines how psychiatry influenced the concept of mental health during the first decades of the twentieth century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 441 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

This comprehensive book delves into the rich history of Hungarian psychiatry between 1850 and 1920, offering a unique perspective by placing it within an Austro-Hungarian and broader European comparative framework. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach, the book explores the intricate institutional worlds of various psychiatric institutions, intertwining them with the intellectual history of mental illness and the micro-historical study of everyday institutional practices. It sheds light on the gradual organization of psychiatrists, their professionalization efforts, the establishment of their field and role, their pursuit of expertise within the medical sciences, their advocacy for legal reform and the establishment of psychiatric institutions, their battles for university positions, the establishment of departments, and specialized psychiatric teaching.

Beyond this narrative of professionalization, the study delves into how psychiatry became deeply invested in social critique. It demonstrates how psychiatry gradually expanded beyond its narrowly defined disciplinary boundaries and emerged as a public arena, with psychiatrists broadening their focus from individual patients to society at large. This was achieved through various means, such as mass publications and active participation in popular social movements.

Furthermore, the book examines how psychiatry began to shape the concept of mental health during the early twentieth century, within the vibrant social and cultural context of fin-de-siècle Budapest and the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy. It explores the ways in which psychiatric ideas and practices influenced the understanding and treatment of mental illness in this period, contributing to the development of mental health services and policies.

Overall, this book provides a valuable contribution to the field of psychiatry, offering a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the historical development of Hungarian psychiatry within its broader European context. It sheds light on the complex interplay between institutional practices, intellectual trends, and social critiques, contributing to our understanding of the evolution of mental health care and the role of psychiatry in society.

Weight: 602g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030857080
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022