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The nursing role in the use of insulin coma therapy for schizophrenia in Britain, 1936 – 1965

journal contribution
posted on 2023-07-26, 13:46 authored by John Adams
Aim. To explore the nursing role in the use of insulin coma therapy for schizophrenia in Britain, 1936–1965. Background. The only history of mental health nursing in Britain published to date gives a minor role to insulin coma therapy and emphasizes nursing opposition to it. Design. An historical study using documentary and oral history sources obtained in 2003–2008 and supplemented by material drawn from interviews in 2010. Method. Historical method was used involving the collection and analysis of primary documentary and oral history material, together with relevant secondary sources. Findings. A range of contemporary sources suggest that nurses in Britain were generally supportive of this treatment regime. The scope for using physical nursing skills was particularly attractive, while the emphasis on close interaction with patients also laid the foundation for later developments in social therapy. The debates surrounding its evidence base are also examined. Faced with a lack of rigorous research findings, clinicians preferred to rely on their clinical judgement. The issue of whether the treatment was abandoned as worthless or merely superseded by still more effective regimes is also explored. Conclusion. A nuanced account of the rise and fall of insulin coma therapy provides a lens through which to examine the development of mental health nursing and a case study of the challenges involved in implementing care based on the best evidence.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

70

Issue number

9

Page range

2086-2094

Publication title

Journal of Advanced Nursing

ISSN

1365-2648

Publisher

Wiley

ISBN

0309-2402

Language

  • other

Legacy posted date

2016-04-26

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

ARCHIVED Faculty of Health, Social Care & Education (until September 2018)

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