The concept of humane treatment was also advocated for by Vincenzo Chiarugi, who had also argued for moral duty and believed that there was a clear obligation to respect the mentally ill as people rather than beasts (Hergenhahn & Henley, 2014). Although Pinel and Chiarugi both argued for humane treatment and had similar values and ideas, both philosophers had been guided by different models of thought (Hergenhahn & Henley, 2014). Pinel had been guided by the psychological model, while Chiarugi had been guided by the medical model (Hergenhahn & Henley, 2014).
In 1841, Dorathea Dix began a 40 year campaign to fund institutions …show more content…
These radical somatic treatments were believed to be grounded in medical science (Benjamin & Ludy, 2005). These included electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), hydrotherapy, insulin therapy, and lobotomy (Osborn, 2009). Although these treatments had proven to improve the manageability of some patients, the treatment had devastating effects on others and no long-term cures were found from the utilisation of these treatments (Benjamin & Ludy, 2005). Moreover, the 1950s where characterised by the development of psychotropic drug therapy and antipsychotics in the form of chlorpromazine (thorazine) and haloperidol (Haldol) (Osborn, 2009). When psychotropic drug therapy was paired with other forms of treatment, 70% of patients were reported to have improved and were able to leave hospital (Osborn, …show more content…
This was marked by a clear rejection of the significant cultural and scientific values attributed to the asylums and a significant level of dissatisfaction in the medical model (Luchins, 1993). Mounting pressure from the stigma created by the rejection of lunatic asylums within the community resulted in the introduction of the Community Mental Health Centres Act of 1963 (Benjamin & Ludy, 2005). The new legislation outlined that communities with a population that exceeded 30 000 citizens were required to establish community health centres for the treatment of serious mental health illnesses (Benjamin & Ludy, 2005). The community health centres were to be predominantly handled on an outpatient basis (Benjamin & Ludy, 2005). The establishment of the Community Mental Health Centres Act of 1963 resulted in the release of large populations of the mentally ill into the community (Benjamin & Ludy,