Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-03

Hospital is being changed by the
new tronquilizing drugs, doctors re-
port. From on institution where
guord-Iike ottendonts were constont
need, the mental hospital is develop
ing home-like atmosphere in which
patients con help themselves. This
is the lost OF series.
risk at best. No more at st.
Elizabeths, except in certain in
stances.
The patient, DR.. Hoffman,
says. must be able to maintain
his dignity and feeling that
he is part of the community.
The use of a knife and fork
as well as the mental patients
traditional spoon is an essential
part of therapy, where possible.
Again. it is the exceptional pa
tient that is not allowed this
privilege.
Male and female patients are
beginning to eat together at St.
Elizabeths. They attend group
therapy sessions together,
dances. movies and other activ-
tiles.
ut is a matter of attitudes
and values" DR.. Hoffman, ex-
planned. Doctors and nurses
here are convinced that patients
must be treated as humans with
courtesy and respect. They must
be looked upon as persons who
can assume responsibility.
Patients Become Advisers
How else can they be re-
turned to the outside world?"
A nearly unheard-of innova-
ton at st. Elizabeths is the
patient government set-up. This
is something like a student
council at college or in high
school. 1t is advisory in capacity
The election of officers, of g
ward chairman and subsequent
meetings help to give the mental
patient this feeling of respon-
Isibility.
! Recently. DR.. Hoffman, re.
called, the patient chairman of a
unit left the hospital for a week
end visit home. He returned
drunk.
He felt guilty, wanted to resign
his post His doctor agreed.
But the patients in the unit
held a meeting and voted to
request that he be given another
chance. He was.
Wards formerly with barren
walls now have mirrors. pictures
and Grapes. They are not being
broke up. CafeteriaS are
equipped with small tables. as in
restaurants. The emphasis is on
treatment, not confinement.
All Of this. thanks to the drugs
Regaining Joy of Living
When a patient comes to a
mental hospital, DR.. Hoffman,
says. he has sense of not being
worth much. 1t is important to
counteract this sense. 1t is too
easy, in fact. to further it.
Gradually. St. Elizabeths is
changing into a little city where
the patient, figuratively, awakes
after an illness and is glad to be
alive.
Electro-c onvulS i've (shock)
treatment is a thing nearly of
the past. The tranquilizing
drugs have replaced it in most
cases with disturbed patients.
1t is still used on depressed pa
tients, however.
LobotomieS-never resorted too
frequently at st. Elizabeth'S -
are virtually out. The last one
was performed in November.
1854. on a brain cancer patient.
DR.. Hoffman, said that now the
only time a lobotomy would be
indicated is in a case of ad-
vanced cancer with unbelievable
pain.
For these two types of treat
ment, written consent must be
obtained from the patients
family.
For the drug treatment, this
is not required. A patient COM
voluntarily or through
legal processes is in the hands
OF the institution. Generally, the
institution may prescribe treat
ment and carry it out.
The tranquilizing drugs are for
the disturbed, violent patients.
There are hints at drugs for
depressives. Some are fairly
workable for mild cases. No.
oreakthrough has been obtained
That can do the same, however
for depressives.
New Day Dawning
But, the mental hospital of
tomorrow is approaching.
Psychiatrists point out that
eventually patients in the mental
hospital will be newly admitted
persons. The chemically dis
turbed will be, for the most part.
the aged who will be left, as the
drugs help lead to the early dis
Charge OF younger patients.
People are living longer today
Whereas, 1t is possible to cure
many patients, the older persons
with disturbances caused by fac
tors such as hardening of the
brain arteries have a less favor
able outlook.
With the faster treatment for
younger patients, out-patient
clinics may be a necessity. They
are used in most Jurisdictions
already.
The law does not provide for
an out-patient clinic at st. Eli
zabeths Hospital. The new drugs,
however. are making the day
come closer when 1t will be a
necessity.