Denis William Reed – Artist within Glenside
The Birth of Electroconvulsive Therapy
The Straitjacket (late 1800's)
West Riding Asylum
The straitjacket
A straitjacket is a garment that is designed to restrain a person's movements, especially their arms. It is usually made from strong fabric to prevent it tearing and has long sleeves that are fastened behind the back with straps or buckles.
They were first used in the 1700s. King George III was restrained in a ‘strait waistcoat’, when his illness made him violent.
But what is the meaning behind this device? Is it a form of care, as some claim, or a form of brutality, as others argue?
Many believed that the straight jacket would calm the patients and prevent them from harming themselves or others. Its advocates cited that the straitjacket wraps the arms into a self-hug, and had three possible therapeutic effects:
- Providing deep touch pressure therapy. An effect used today through weighted blankets, where pressure on the body causes release of serotonin in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter sometimes called the “happy” chemical because it creates a sense of calm and well-being.
- Enclosing the person’s hands and arms, making running feel unsafe.
- Working with the chemicals in the body to promote calmness and turning off fight-or-flight responses; an acute stress response where perception of threat triggers a cascade of changes in the brain setting off alarms throughout the central nervous system.
Not everyone agreed with this stance and some critics denounced the straitjacket as a cruel and oppressive instrument, that violated the freedom and dignity of the patients. They claimed that the straitjacket was a form of torture, and a way of silencing and controlling the patients.
Padded Cell, Glenside Hospital Museum
The Padded Cell
Bristol Lunatic Asylum (Glenside Hospital) had several padded rooms included from its construction in 1861.
Padded cells were common in most asylums built towards the end of the 1800s.
A padded cell is a room with soft walls and floor, designed to prevent injuries and self-harm for people who are agitated, violent, or suicidal. The padded cell is often used as a temporary measure to isolate and calm down a person who poses a danger to themselves or others, until they can receive proper medical attention.
The padded cell can also be seen as a form of protection or a form of punishment, depending on the context and the perspective. Some people may find the padded cell comforting and soothing, while others may find it frightening and humiliating.
In summary, both the straitjacket and padded cells are controversial treatments that have been used for various purposes throughout history. Depending on the perspective, they can be seen as a form of care or a form of brutality.
They form an interesting debate which reflects the complexity and diversity of human nature, and the challenges and dilemmas of understanding and treating mental illness.
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