A History of Insanity in Vermont

1960
1880
1890
1900
1910
1920
1930
1950
1960
1970
1980
Today

                                                                               Brattleboro
     As a result of both decreased lengths of stay as well as an increased ability to treat patients out of the hospital, the Retreat experienced a loss of census between 1950 and 1960. Furthermore, there was a distinct possibility that this decrease in patients stemmed from a decrease in the 20- and 30-something populations (which characterized the majority of the Retreat’s in-patients), which in turn could be traced to decreased birthrates during the Great Depression of the 1930s.
     The hospital admission processes did nothing to curb the loss of patients either. All check-ins were either required to sign papers which placed them under hospital control or were involuntary admissions. In 1960, only prisons and mental hospitals were required to admit people on commitment, and this association drove perspective patients away from the places best suited to treat them. As a result general hospitals were treating as many mental patients as were mental hospitals, simply because people wanted to avoid the “commitment procedures” and the “locked-door stigma” of the mental hospitals. In an effort to reverse these associations and trends by removing the commitment procedures (“except for involuntary, antisocial, or suicidal patients”), Brattleboro superintendent J. Butler Tompkins wrote, “mental illness is sickness and should not be legally treated as crime where danger to the public and to the person is not involved.” This petition was highly prioritized on Tompkins agenda because a large number of Brattleboro’s patients were scheduled for transfer to the State Hospital at Waterbury, resulting in the freeing up of 35% of Brattleboro’s facilities, space that could be used by mentally ill people who were then avoiding the admissions process.

                                                  Care and Treatment
     By 1960 numerous important advancements in psychiatric care and treatment led to a much changed set of treatments that were administered in the hospital. The insulin unit was closed down and deference was made to newly improved tranquilizers and anti-depressants. The months between June, 1959 and June, 1960 saw a 72% decrease in the number of patients treated with electro-convulsive therapy and a related decrease in x-rays. Alternatively, there was a marked increase in electroencephalograms (EEGs) performed, and 23% of EEGs were abnormal.
     Importantly due to the limited number of psychologists employed by the Retreat, group psychotherapy sessions were instituted on all the wards. Besides psychotherapy, other chief responsibilities of the department of psychology included research, contributions to the hospital teaching program, and diagnostic psychological testing which was coming into high demand. Additionally, out-patient services was continually growing and proving successful, and this helped build a stronger connection between the Retreat and the greater community.

Principal Psychoses 1960
[click image to enlarge]

Brattleboro Retreat's First Graduating Class of Nurses, 1958

                                               Nursing
     Just as treatment protocols were being revolutionized, the nursing department was undergoing a number of changes as well. The reorganization of the nursing services began in 1956 with the goal of creating a cohesive unit of nurses working together throughout the hospital. The ward became the most important administrative unit for nurses, and facilitated the “decentralization of authority, responsibility, and function” with regards to medication, personal administration, ward records, nursing care plans, etc. Furthermore, all nurses and nursing positions gained written job descriptions and minimum requirements, and all engaged in competitive promotion opportunities with regularly scheduled exams. A yearly rating system and grievance procedure was established. All of these changes helped to create a nursing staff comprised of interested, engaged, and motivated employees.
     In addition to the increased rigor of the nurses’ jobs, an In-Service Program was instated to provide continuing education to currently employed and working nurses; this was a re-vamped and updated version of the existing training school for nurses. A Program of Affiliation in psychiatry for professional nurses who had worked for 3 years was developed and waiting approval at the end of the biennium in 1960.

                                                                   Volunteers and Recreation
     In 1960, as in earlier years, volunteers worked alongside the nursing staff to provide care for the resident patients at Brattleboro. They created a clothing shop, hat bar, and Christmas gift shop. They held study groups, sent birthday cards, and organized weekly programs and parties on various wards, all of which met with great success and patient approval. The volunteer guild was an essential component to the “general welfare of the patients,” and it helped to “create a better understanding of mental illness.”
     Various games and recreation were also an integral part of patient life in 1960. Games included tetherball, shuffleboard, softball, tennis, mini-golf, and bowling. Patients also participated in swimming and golf at local venues during the summertime, and attended community events year-round, which was good for the Retreat’s public relations.Finally, the beauty parlor, library, and farm were all still in existence as well.

[return to top of page]
[return to homepage]