The most deadly disease of asylumdom: general paralysis of the insane and Scottish psychiatry, c.1840–1940

2012/09/01 by G Davis · 1 voice
Arts and Humanities · Neuroscience · Psychology · #Historical Psychiatry and Medical Practices #Historical Studies on Reproduction, Gender, Health, and Societal Changes #Neurology and Historical Studies

paper · pdf · doi:10.4997/jrcpe.2012.316

openalex publication_date 2012/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21

Abstract

General paralysis of the insane (GPI) was one of the most devastating diseases observed in British psychiatry during the century after 1840, in terms of the high number and type of patients diagnosed, the severity of its symptoms and, above all, its utterly hopeless prognosis. With particular reference to the physicians and patients of the Royal Edinburgh Asylum, this article explores the diagnostic process and the social and medical significance of the 'death sentence' that accompanied the GPI diagnosis.

Discussions

• The figure is from Gayle Davis, ‘The Most Deadly Disease of Asylumdom: General Paralysis of the Insane and Scottish Psychiatry, c.1840-1940’, The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburg [bsky, 2 points, 1 comments]

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