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Original Hospital Mission

Central State initially intended provide treatment for the mentally ill who were often thrown into jail, a poor house, or family residences. However, examination of their practices in the operational period shows a transition in the health, treatment, and freedoms of their patients over time.  (1)

Early Optimism

The hospital desired to have equality among the genders in treatment of their patients, which in 1848, was incredible. This seems to be an indicator of how progressive the hospital started out. (1)

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Central State Hospital opened the groundbreaking Pathological department, which now stands as the Indiana Medical History Museum, in 1896 to study causes of insanity and mental illness, searching for a cure instead of a treatment, which was forward thinking in its era. (1)

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The 1942 annual report included modern medical terms such as schizophrenia and paranoia, showing the evolving understanding of mental illness. (1)

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Indiana Medical History Museum by Indiana Landmarks, used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Treatment at central state

The hospital worked by splitting its patients into two separate groups: those with "acute" mental illness, or having less than one year of insanity, and those with "chronic" mental illness, or having more than one year of insanity. The hospital claimed its "cure" rate was 90%, but in actuality, it was closer to 36-54%. (3) 

Central State was revolutionary in their decision to rehabilitate patients rather than just confine them, and a lot of their initial treatment methods reflect that. The hospital used moral, occupational, musical, hydro, and social therapies to try and transform their patients into future productive members of society. Central State did practice the now controversial electroconvulsive therapy, but did not perform lobotomies at the hospital due to skepticism of the procedure by the staff.  (3) 

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IndyGoth 2009 Tour by Sarah Stierch used under CC BY 2.0

During the operational period of Central State, the movement of eugenics and sterilization was coming to fruition in the United States. Secretary of the State Board of Health of Indiana, Dr. John Hurty, was a huge supporter of the movement and Indiana became the first state to enact sterilization legislation in 1907. The total number of sterilized people in Indiana ranges from 700 to 2500, but the effect on Central State Hospital is likely small as most people who would have been targeted for sterilization were sent to the Indiana Asylum for the Education of the Deaf and Dumb which opened in 1846. (3)

The Good

  • Occasional outings or in-house performances

  • Fourth of July Picnic

  • Central State Hospital Christmas Celebration -- each patient was given a gift by the staff

  • Federally Funded  (easily accessible)

  • Originally Reduced Homelessness/ Unnecessary Jail-Time

  • Diverse group of patients, railroad workers, saloon keepers, etc.

The bad

  • Worst Patients Were Confined to the Basement (“The Dungeon”)

  • Short-Staffed

  • Underfunded

  • 1:60 Nurse:Patient ratio,  16 hour shifts

  • Incorrect and Harmful "Treatment"

  • Patient Neglect

All bulleted information retrieved from the IHB: Central State Hospital Page (1)

“There are great advantages resulting from the use of baths—from a well regulated diet—change of scenery and old associations—change of habits of life where they have been pernicious to health—regular exercise in the open air, at some useful employment,” as well as  “diversion of the mind by various innocent amusements.” - 1849 Annual Report (1)

 

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