Mental health Benjamin Rush

moral thermometer. benjamin rush s inquiry effects of spirituous liquors on human body , mind. boston: thomas , andrews, 1790 (library company of philadelphia)

rush published 1 of first descriptions , treatments psychiatric disorders in american medicine, medical inquiries , observations, upon diseases of mind (1812). undertook classify different forms of mental illness , theorize causes , possible cures. rush believed (incorrectly) many mental illnesses caused disruptions of blood circulation, or sensory overload, , treated them devices meant improve circulation brain such centrifugal spinning board, , inactivity/sensory deprivation via restraining chair sensory-deprivation head enclosure ( tranquilizer chair ). after seeing mental patients in appalling conditions in pennsylvania hospital, rush led successful campaign in 1792 state build separate mental ward patients kept in more humane conditions.

rush believed, did many physicians of time, bleeding , active purging mercury(i) chloride (calomel) preferable medical treatments insanity, fact evidenced statement that, difficult prevail upon patients in state of madness, or compel them, take mercury in of ways in administered. in these cases have succeeded, sprinkling few grains of calomel daily upon piece of bread, , afterwards spreading on it, thin covering of butter. while rush followed standard procedures of bleeding , treatment mercury, did not believe coercion , restraint , physical punishment, chains , dungeons, practice of time, answer. reason, aspects of approach seen similar moral therapy, rise prominence in @ least wealthier institutions of europe , united states.

rush considered pioneer of occupational therapy particularly pertains institutionalized. in diseases of mind (1812), rush wrote:

it has been remarked maniacs of male sex in hospitals, assist in cutting wood, making fires, , digging in garden, , females employed in washing, ironing, , scrubbing floors, recover, while persons, rank exempts them performing such services, languish away lives within walls of hospital.

furthermore, rush 1 of first people describe savant syndrome. in 1789, described abilities of thomas fuller, lightning calculator. observation later described in other individuals notable scientists john langdon down.

rush pioneered therapeutic approach addiction. prior work, drunkenness viewed being sinful , matter of choice. rush believed alcoholic loses control on himself , identified properties of alcohol, rather alcoholic s choice, causal agent. developed conception of alcoholism form of medical disease , proposed alcoholics should weaned addiction via less potent substances.

rush advocated more humane mental institutions , perpetuated idea people mental illness people have illness, rather inhuman animals. championed idea of partial madness, or people have varying degrees of mental illness.

the american psychiatric association s seal bears image of rush s purported profile @ center. outer ring of seal contains words american psychiatric association 1844 . association s history of seal states:

the choice of rush (1746-1813) seal reflects place in history. .... rush s practice of psychiatry based on bleeding, purging, , use of tranquilizer chair , gyrator. 1844 these practices considered erroneous , abandoned. rush, however, first american study mental disorder in systematic manner, , considered father of american psychiatry.