So Far Disordered in Mind: Insanity in California 1870 - 1930

Between the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 and the Great Depression in 1929, the San Francisco Superior Court committed more than 12,000 city residents to the insane asylums of California. This book is the first historical study of insanity to analyze thousands of court commitment records, revealing that two-thirds of those committed were odd, peculiar, or immoral individuals who displayed no symptoms indicating severe disability or violent or destructive tendencies. The rise of new institutions and new professions in cities like San Francisco by the 1920s marked a decisive turning point in social policy, leading to the effort to shut down hospitals and replace them with community mental health centers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 222 pages
Publication date: 25 March 2022
Publisher: University of California Press

Between the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 and the Great Depression in 1929, the San Francisco Superior Court committed more than 12,000 city residents to the insane asylums of California. Who were these people? What brought them to the attention of the court, and what behavior did the medical examiners cite as evidence of insanity? What do these commitments reveal about the social and cultural meaning of insanity and other forms of deviant behavior in industrial California—and by extension in the rest of urban America in the early twentieth century?

This book, the first historical study of insanity to analyze thousands of court commitment records, provides an original look at the social, institutional, and professional web in which deviant individuals were officially judged so far disordered in mind that they were dangerous to be at large. A full two-thirds of all those committed were, to judge by the court records, odd, peculiar, or simply immoral individuals who displayed no symptoms indicating severe disability, or violent or destructive tendencies. However surprising this fact may seem, it is not at all unexpected in view of the expressed function of insane asylums in the late nineteenth century. As early as the 1850s, and continuing into the twentieth century, asylum superintendents bewailed the role state law required them to play: that of managers of enormous warehouses for drunkards, simpletons, fools, the aged, the vagabond, the helpless. Local communities made liberal use of state asylums, where at no cost to themselves, potentially troublesome citizens could be detained. Only after World War I did local mental hygiene clinics and urban psychopathic wards begin to spring up.

The rise of new institutions (clinics and wards) and new professions (psychiatry and psychology) marked a significant shift in the treatment of mental illness. Prior to this, insanity was primarily viewed as a spiritual or moral condition, and individuals were often subjected to harsh treatments such as electroshock therapy and lobotomies. However, with the advent of modern medicine and scientific research, a more nuanced understanding of mental illness began to emerge. Psychiatrists and psychologists began to focus on the causes and effects of mental illness, and they developed new treatments and therapies that aimed to help individuals manage their symptoms and live fulfilling lives.

Despite these advances, the treatment of mental illness remained controversial and often stigmatized. Many individuals who were diagnosed with mental illness were subjected to discrimination and marginalization, and they faced limited opportunities for employment and social integration. This was particularly true for individuals with severe mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, who were often viewed as dangerous and unpredictable.

In response to these challenges, advocacy groups and individuals began to work towards improving the treatment of mental illness and promoting mental health awareness. These efforts led to the passage of important legislation, such as the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which aimed to ensure that individuals with mental illness had access to the same level of care and treatment as individuals with physical illnesses.

Today, mental health is a recognized and important public health issue, and there is a growing understanding of the importance of promoting mental well-being and preventing mental illness. This has led to the development of new treatments and therapies, as well as the promotion of mental health awareness and education in schools and communities.

In conclusion, the history of insanity and mental illness is a complex and multifaceted issue that has been shaped by a range of social, cultural, and medical factors. From the early asylums of the nineteenth century to the modern treatment of mental illness, there has been a significant shift in our understanding and approach to mental illness. While there are still challenges to be faced, there is hope for a brighter future, where individuals with mental illness can receive the care and support they need to live fulfilling lives.

Weight: 408g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780520356825