• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • About
  • Topics
    • Anxiety
    • CHANGES
    • CBT
    • Clinical Depression
    • Interviews
    • Alcohol
    • Goal Setting
    • Motivational Interviewing
    • MBTI
    • Running
    • Challenges
  • Podcast
  • Livestream
  • Services
    • Core Services
      • Foundations: Wellness Planning Workshop
      • Walking For Vitality: Powering Up
      • Running For Fitness: 5k Build-Up
    • Enhanced Services
      • Alcohol Free Check-In
      • Runners Roundtable
  • Contact

Finding My Psych • Sober Vegan Living

Applied Health Psychology

Finding My Psych • Sober Vegan Living
Applied Health Psychology & Behavioural Medicine
Evidence-Based Clinical Practice and Research in Psychology, Fitness, and Nutrition
Jerod Killick, M.S.

  • Psychology
  • Fitness
  • Nutrition
  • Addiction
  • Episodes
  • Announcements
You are here: Home / Episodes / FMP 055 • Controversial & Dangerous Treatments For Mental Illness – A Dark History

FMP 055 • Controversial & Dangerous Treatments For Mental Illness – A Dark History

October 23, 2021 By Jerod Killick, M.S.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:37 — 43.4MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Stitcher | Blubrry | JioSaavn | Podchaser | Gaana | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | Anghami | RSS | More

“We will be judged by how we treated the most vulnerable in our society.”

Historical controversial treatments for the mentally ill in review

Controversial Treatments

Based on listener feedback, today, I review the dark history of treatments for mental illness. In my review, I highlight the most astonishing practices – Who knows how well intentioned these actors were. Nevertheless, treatments such as blood letting, insulin shock therapy, and lobotomy were anything but humane. Finally, I draw attention to the current practice of Conversion Therapy, a modern treatment for homosexuality, based in prejudice and bigotry.

Episode Outline

Welcome to Episode 55: Controversial Treatments for Mental Illness

  1. What We Do:
    • Behavioural Medicine and Health Psychology
    • Providing easily accessible content designed to help you design your own transformative experience.
  2. Today:
    • A look at historical and current forms of treatment for the mentally ill that also produce uncertain, if not dangerous, outcomes.
  3. Services Review:
    • Finding My Psych offers three core services focused on promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness.
      • Foundations: Wellness Planning Workshop
      • Walking For Vitality: Powering Up
      • Running For Fitness: 5k Build-Up

Treatments – Dubious At Best

  1. Frontal Lobotomy (Leucotomies):
    • Received the Nobel Prize – Portuguese neurologist António Egas Moniz in 1949
    • Insertion of Leucotomes through the orbits of the eyes, twisted and then removed.
    • Permanent form of sedation.
  2. Treatment of the “Humors”:
    • Originated from Ancient Greece – Popularized in the 1600s.
    • Illness originates from out of balance substances in the body.
    • Included bleeding and vomiting were the most common.
  3. “Moral” Treatments:
    • Physical treatments designed to end mental illness.
    • Popular in the 18th century.
    • Ice baths, restraints, isolation.
  4. Metrazol Shock Therapy:
    • Circulatory and respiratory stimulant.
    • Treatment for psychosis.
    • GABA Antagonist – Stimulant medication inducing convulsions and coma.
    • High incidence of death – Discontinued by FDA in 1982s.
  5. Insulin Shock Therapy:
    • Used widely in the 40s and 50s.
    • Regular treatments over several weeks slowly increased until coma induced.
    • 100-150 units – Some cases 450 units depending on individual.
    • Some people reported, “clarity” after coma.
  6. “Fixing The Homosexual”:
    • Removed as a mental illness in the 1970s.
    • Up to its removal, several approaches were used: ECT, Castration, Vasectomy, pubic nerve surgery and lobotomy.
    • Worst? – Transplanting testes from heterosexual men to homosexual men.
    • Today – Conversion Therapy – A form of brain washing using religious beliefs, shaping, shame, and isolation.

Not Considered Controversial Treatments

  1. ECT – Electroconvulsive Therapy (Since 1940s):
    • Done under general anesthesia
    • Small electric current inducing brief seizure.
    • Tx of severe depression, severe mania, and catatonia.

Filed Under: Episodes

Listen to the Finding My Psych Podcast

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandoraiHeartRadioStitcherTuneInDeezerRSSMore Subscribe Options

About Jerod Killick, M.S.

Jerod received his masters degree in Clinical Psychology in 1997, and later completed a post-graduate clinical and research concentration in Behavioural Medicine and Health Psychology.  He currently works as a senior leader in mental health and addictions for Vancouver Coastal Health. Please note that all views and opinions expressed on the Finding My Psych website and podcast are solely that of the author, Jerod Killick, M.S., and does not necessarily represent those of his employer.

Primary Sidebar

Get your Whoop 4.0 for Free plus first month's subscription.

Listen On Spotify

Listen to the Finding My Psych Podcast

Alcohol Free Check-In

90 days without alcohol challenge

Available Spring, 2023!

Want to join our latest alcohol free challenge? Or, are you interested in reducing the influence alcohol has on your life but don’t know where to start? You have landed in the right place!

Whether you are sober curious, or are challenging yourself to a 30, 60, 90, or 120 day challenge, our Alcohol Free Check-In is a great place to connect with others on the same journey.  Better yet, it’s free!

Starting this Spring of 2023, Join us on Sundays at 2 pm PST via zoom by enrolling on our booking page.  Only 20 seats available per session.

Book an appointment with Personnel Calendar using SetMore

Runners Roundtable

FMP runners round table

Available Spring,2023!

Whether you hit the trails or pound pavement, the Runners Roundtable is a great place to connect with other runners at all experience levels who share your passion.

Starting this Spring of 2023, join us on Sundays at 1pm PST via zoom.  Enrolment will be available via our booking page. Only 20 seats available per session.

Book an appointment with Personnel Calendar using SetMore

Register For Core Services

FMP online workshops and clinics

Finding My Psych offers three core services focused on promoting physical, emotional, and spiritual wellness.  Each of our Core Services offered cost a low one time fee due at registration. Where qualified, fees can be waved by reaching out to our support team.  Registration begins in Spring of 2023 for the following space limited cohorts:

  1. Foundations: Wellness Planning Workshop
  2. Walking For Vitality: Powering Up 
  3. Running For Fitness: 5k Build-up

Crisis Resources

If you are in emotional distress, please consider contacting one of the following international resources:

  1. Your Life Counts – Crisis Line Near You (International)
  2. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (USA) – 1-800-273-8255
  3. Crisis Text Line 24/7 (USA) – 741741

**If you are in crisis and do not feel safe, contact a local mental health professional or go directly to the nearest emergency department.

Contact Finding My Psych

We strive to make ourselves accessible to our readers and listeners, knowing that you might have a question or unique perspective on something you found on our site.  Our team is one click away!

  1. Phone/Txt: CAN (778) 771-3800, or USA (424) 346-9866 – Leave our team a voicemail or drop us a text with your comment or question.
  2. Social Media:  Feel free to reach out to our team on social media.  You can find us on Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, LinkedIn, Youtube, or Facebook.
  3. Contact Form:  If you want to send us an email, complete the fillable form on our contact page.

Footer

RSS Positive Psychology Feed

  • 22 Most Effective Adlerian Therapy Techniques and Worksheets
  • Cognitive Coaching Model: 26 Questions, Steps, and Strategies
  • Divorce Counseling & Therapy: Best Worksheets & Techniques
  • How to Do Activity Scheduling: 6 Templates & Worksheets
  • 12 Fascinating Theories of Counseling to Apply in Practice

Join Us On Strava

Strava Group
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Navigation

  • Comment Policy
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Services
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Topics

© 2018-2023 All Rights Reserved: The Finding My Psych Website and Podcast - Applied Health Psychology and Behavioural Medicine, Jerod Killick, M.S., Vancouver, BC. Canada, (778) 771- 3800

Finding My Psych uses cookies to provide the best user experience for our visitors. (Privacy Policy)
Okay!
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT