Dorothea DixDorothea Dix

By Chris MartinezBy Chris Martinez

Ben CowenBen Cowen

Brenda SalgadoBrenda Salgado

BackgroundBackground

She was born Dorothea Lynde Dix. Her She was born Dorothea Lynde Dix. Her father's name was Joseph and mother father's name was Joseph and mother Mary. She was born on April 4th 1802 in Mary. She was born on April 4th 1802 in Hampden, Maine.Hampden, Maine.Her father was a migrant preacher and Her father was a migrant preacher and published literary publications such as published literary publications such as tracts. Her mother, Mary was a victim of tracts. Her mother, Mary was a victim of depression and the fact that they were depression and the fact that they were not well off also led to a so happy not well off also led to a so happy childhoodchildhood

InfluencesInfluences After she returned to After she returned to

America, in 1840-41, Dix America, in 1840-41, Dix conducted a statewide conducted a statewide investigation of how her investigation of how her home state of Massachusetts home state of Massachusetts cared for the insane poor. In cared for the insane poor. In most cases, towns most cases, towns contracted with local contracted with local individuals to care for people individuals to care for people with mental disorders who with mental disorders who could not care for could not care for themselves, and who lacked themselves, and who lacked family and friends to provide family and friends to provide for them. Unregulated and for them. Unregulated and underfunded, this system underfunded, this system produced widespread abuse.produced widespread abuse.

Her VisionHer Vision Dix traveled from New Dix traveled from New

Hampshire to Louisiana, Hampshire to Louisiana, documenting the condition documenting the condition of pauper lunatics, of pauper lunatics, publishing memorials to publishing memorials to state legislatures, and state legislatures, and devoting enormous devoting enormous personal energy to working personal energy to working with committees to draft with committees to draft the enabling legislation the enabling legislation and appropriations bills and appropriations bills needed to build asylums. In needed to build asylums. In 1848, Dorothea Dix visited 1848, Dorothea Dix visited North Carolina and called North Carolina and called for reform in the care of for reform in the care of mentally ill patients. mentally ill patients.

Final YearsFinal Years During the Civil War, Dix was During the Civil War, Dix was

appointed Superintendent of Union appointed Superintendent of Union Army Nurses. Unfortunately, the Army Nurses. Unfortunately, the qualities that made her a qualities that made her a successful crusader—successful crusader—independence, single-minded zealindependence, single-minded zeal—did not lend themselves to —did not lend themselves to managing a large organization of managing a large organization of female nurses. At odds with Army female nurses. At odds with Army doctors, she was gradually relieved doctors, she was gradually relieved of real responsibility and would of real responsibility and would consider this chapter in her career consider this chapter in her career a failure. In 1881, Dix moved into a failure. In 1881, Dix moved into the New Jersey State Hospital, the New Jersey State Hospital, Morris Plains, where the state Morris Plains, where the state legislature designated a suite for legislature designated a suite for her private use as long as she her private use as long as she lived. An invalid, yet still managing lived. An invalid, yet still managing to correspond with people from to correspond with people from England to Japan, she died on July England to Japan, she died on July 17, 1887. Dix was buried in Mt. 17, 1887. Dix was buried in Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts. Massachusetts.

Treatments in Dorothea Dix Treatments in Dorothea Dix HospitalHospital

People thought that “moral treatment” People thought that “moral treatment” such as routine habits, fixed schedules, such as routine habits, fixed schedules, and proper diets would cure patients. and proper diets would cure patients. Other things implemented was pleasant Other things implemented was pleasant surroundings, medications, and physical surroundings, medications, and physical and mental activities. Extensive and mental activities. Extensive landscapes were developed on the landscapes were developed on the grounds of mental hospitals. There was grounds of mental hospitals. There was a hospital farm that could provide a hospital farm that could provide patients and staff in the mental hospital patients and staff in the mental hospital with food. Patients even had the with food. Patients even had the opportunity to do vocational work such opportunity to do vocational work such as making clothes, rugs, mattresses, as making clothes, rugs, mattresses, and brooms. Many patients were and brooms. Many patients were involved in activities such as tennis, involved in activities such as tennis, dancing, reading, and croquet. Ministers dancing, reading, and croquet. Ministers would go to the mental hospital to would go to the mental hospital to conduct services each week. Also, a conduct services each week. Also, a cemetery was present on the grounds. cemetery was present on the grounds. Marble posts with a chain along the line Marble posts with a chain along the line of graves were built. of graves were built.

Treatment in Hospitals TodayTreatment in Hospitals Today In this day and time, people In this day and time, people

with mental illness are not put with mental illness are not put in hospitals unless it is in hospitals unless it is conspicuously urgent that they conspicuously urgent that they should be. Mental illnesses are should be. Mental illnesses are caused by pathological and caused by pathological and psychological disorders. A psychological disorders. A treatment plan can be treatment plan can be obtained by listing the obtained by listing the patient’s symptoms. Leaving patient’s symptoms. Leaving them in a hospital would do no them in a hospital would do no good. At least if they are going good. At least if they are going through their routine day, they through their routine day, they can be productive. Sitting can be productive. Sitting around playing games all day around playing games all day is not necessary. In fact, a is not necessary. In fact, a simple medication is usually simple medication is usually enough to do the trick when it enough to do the trick when it comes to curing patients.comes to curing patients.

DeinstitutionalizationDeinstitutionalization Deinstitutionalization refers to the decrease in Deinstitutionalization refers to the decrease in

the number of patients in mental hospitals. the number of patients in mental hospitals. Also, fewer mental health treatments are Also, fewer mental health treatments are carried out in public hospitals. This is due to carried out in public hospitals. This is due to the utility of community-based mental health the utility of community-based mental health services rather than relying on hospitals. services rather than relying on hospitals. Deinstitutionalization shows evolution in Deinstitutionalization shows evolution in practice, experience, and structure of mental practice, experience, and structure of mental health care in the United States. People health care in the United States. People should be released from mental hospitals as should be released from mental hospitals as soon as they promise to take their medication. soon as they promise to take their medication. There is no reason why they should be held There is no reason why they should be held just because of a psychiatric disorder that just because of a psychiatric disorder that wont physically harm the patient. wont physically harm the patient.

Reasons for Change in TreatmentReasons for Change in Treatment

The reason why there was change is The reason why there was change is because people realized that hospitals because people realized that hospitals offered little in the way of treatment. Also, offered little in the way of treatment. Also, people who were admitted to a hospital people who were admitted to a hospital often had to stay for months or years. All often had to stay for months or years. All the hospital did was provide patients with a the hospital did was provide patients with a way to avoid the stress of living. However, way to avoid the stress of living. However, in making a recovery, a patient needs to be in making a recovery, a patient needs to be in their everyday routine. Otherwise, once in their everyday routine. Otherwise, once they are released, their body will undergo a they are released, their body will undergo a shock. It was realized that medication is a shock. It was realized that medication is a lot more sufficient that hospitals because at lot more sufficient that hospitals because at least the patient can continue with their least the patient can continue with their everyday routine.everyday routine.

ConclusionConclusion

Dix’s impact in today’s world cannot Dix’s impact in today’s world cannot be underestimated. She established be underestimated. She established hospitals for the mentally ill and hospitals for the mentally ill and handicappedas well as provide them handicappedas well as provide them with humane care that was beneficial with humane care that was beneficial for the patient. She was a pioneer for for the patient. She was a pioneer for modern health in a time where care modern health in a time where care for the mentally ill or handicapped for the mentally ill or handicapped was not valued or didn’t exist at all. was not valued or didn’t exist at all.

CreditsCredits http://http://

www.dhhs.state.nc.us/mhddsas/DIX/dorothwww.dhhs.state.nc.us/mhddsas/DIX/dorothea.htmlea.html

http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/mhddsas/DIX/ihttp://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/mhddsas/DIX/images/ddhmark.jpgmages/ddhmark.jpg

http://www.minddisorders.com/Br-http://www.minddisorders.com/Br-Del/Deinstitutionalization.htmlDel/Deinstitutionalization.html

http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/http://www.dhhs.state.nc.us/mhddsas/dix/history.htmlmhddsas/dix/history.htmlhttp://www.medhunters.com/http://www.medhunters.com/articles/historyOfMentalHosps.htmlarticles/historyOfMentalHosps.html

http://www.healthyminds.org/http://www.healthyminds.org/psychiatrichospitalization.cfmpsychiatrichospitalization.cfm