Abstract
Aims and MethodTo assess the part that the 19th century asylums played in the development of the discipline of child psychiatry. Admissions to the Worcester County Asylum between the years 1854 and 1900 were screened to identify children aged 16 and under. An item sheet was used to record details of the admission.ResultsOne-hundred and ninety-five children were admitted. Risk of suicide and dangerousness were routinely recorded, family history rarely. It was not possible to make retrospective diagnoses. The death rate was high and contact with the family was minimal post admission.Clinical ImplicationsChildren were treated exactly like the adult patients, and therefore asylums did not contribute significantly to the development of the discipline of child psychiatry.
Highlights
MethodsThe Worcester County Asylum (Powick Asylum) in the village of Powick opened in 1854
Until the mental health of children had been the province of public and private agencies, whose policies were developed in the late 19th century and whose perspectives on children often still reflect this
Such a diversity of service origin is one of the strengths of mental health provision for children (Howells & Osborn, 1980), and a weakness in that it can lead to misunderstandings and confusion (Pearce, 1999)
Summary
The Worcester County Asylum (Powick Asylum) in the village of Powick opened in 1854. Patient admissions were sequentially recorded in large leather-bound ledgers. Both males and females were recorded in the same book, but subsequently males and females were recorded separately. All ledgers available were examined and those children aged 16 and under on Diagnosis. Age 4ö10 (n=34)* Age 11ö16 (n=161)* Epilepsy Idiocy Mania Dementia Delusions ö Moral imbecility Melancholia ö Imbecility. *70 children were given more than one diagnosis
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