The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease
Encyclopedia
The Protest Psychosis: How Schizophrenia Became a Black Disease is 2010 book written by psychiatrist
Jonathan Metzl (who also has a Ph.D. in American studies
), and published by Beacon Press
, covering the history of the 1960s Ionia State Hospital—located in Ionia, Michigan
and now converted to a prison. The facility is claimed to have been one of America's largest and most notorious state psychiatric hospital
s in the era before deinstitutionalization. The book focuses on exposing the trend of this hospital to diagnose African American
s with schizophrenia
because of their civil rights
ideas. The book suggests that in part the sudden influx of such diagnoses could be traced to a change in wording in the DSM-II, which compared to the previous edition added "hostility" and "aggression" as signs of the disorder. Metzl writes that this change resulted in structural racism
.
The book was well reviewed in JAMA
, where it was described as "a fascinating, penetrating book by one of medicine's most exceptional young scholars." The book was also reviewed in the American Journal of Psychiatry
, and in the journals Social History of Medicine and Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and Medicine.
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
Jonathan Metzl (who also has a Ph.D. in American studies
American studies
American studies or American civilization is an interdisciplinary field dealing with the study of the United States. It traditionally incorporates the study of history, literature, and critical theory, but also includes fields as diverse as law, art, the media, film, religious studies, urban...
), and published by Beacon Press
Beacon Press
Beacon Press is an American non-profit book publisher. Founded in 1854 by the American Unitarian Association, it is currently a department of the Unitarian Universalist Association.Beacon Press is a member of the Association of American University Presses....
, covering the history of the 1960s Ionia State Hospital—located in Ionia, Michigan
Ionia, Michigan
Ionia is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Ionia County, Michigan, United States. The population was 11,394 at the 2010 census. Every late July it hosts what may be the world's largest free-admission fair...
and now converted to a prison. The facility is claimed to have been one of America's largest and most notorious state psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
s in the era before deinstitutionalization. The book focuses on exposing the trend of this hospital to diagnose African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s with schizophrenia
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
because of their civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
ideas. The book suggests that in part the sudden influx of such diagnoses could be traced to a change in wording in the DSM-II, which compared to the previous edition added "hostility" and "aggression" as signs of the disorder. Metzl writes that this change resulted in structural racism
Institutional racism
Institutional racism describes any kind of system of inequality based on race. It can occur in institutions such as public government bodies, private business corporations , and universities . The term was coined by Black Power activist Stokely Carmichael in the late 1960s...
.
The book was well reviewed in JAMA
Jama
Jama or JAMA may refer to:* Jama Software, a privately held company in Portland, Oregon* Journal of the American Medical Association, an international peer-reviewed general medical journal...
, where it was described as "a fascinating, penetrating book by one of medicine's most exceptional young scholars." The book was also reviewed in the American Journal of Psychiatry
American Journal of Psychiatry
The American Journal of Psychiatry is a monthly peer-reviewed medical journal covering all aspects of psychiatry and the official journal of the American Psychiatric Association. The first volume was issued in 1844, at which time it was known as the American Journal of Insanity...
, and in the journals Social History of Medicine and Health: An Interdisciplinary Journal for the Social Study of Health, Illness and Medicine.
External links
- Book page on the publisher's web site
- The Protest Psychosis video recording of talk by Metzl aired on Jan 13, 2010 by CSPAN-2's Book TVBook TVBook TV is the name given to weekend programming on the American cable network C-SPAN2 airing from 8 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday morning to 8 a.m. Eastern Time Monday morning each week. The 48 hour block of programming is focused on non-fiction books and authors, featuring programs in the format of...
(90 minutes) - Interview with Metzl about the book by Christopher J. LaneChristopher J. LaneChristopher J. Lane is a British-American literary critic and intellectual historian who is currently the Pearce Miller Research Professor of Literature at Northwestern University. Previously, he taught at Emory University, where he was also director of the Psychoanalytic Studies Program in the...
on Psychology TodayPsychology TodayPsychology Today is a bi-monthly magazine published in the United States. It is a psychology-based magazine about relationships, health, and related topics written for a mass audience of non-psychologists. Psychology Today was founded in 1967 and features articles on such topics as love,... - Interview with Metzl on WNYCWNYCWNYC is a set of call letters shared by a pair of co-owned, non-profit, public radio stations located in New York City.WNYC broadcasts on the AM band at 820 kHz, and WNYC-FM is at 93.9 MHz. Both stations are members of National Public Radio and carry distinct, but similar news/talk programs...
radio, February 12, 2010 - How the Black man became schizophrenic blog post on the book by Karen FranklinKaren FranklinKaren Franklin is a forensic psychologist known for her research on the psychosocial motivations of antigay violence perpetrators. She is adjunct faculty at the California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University.-Career:...
on Psychology Today - Schizophrenia as Political Weapon. The disease turned from a benign illness to a violent disease in the 1960s, just as black men joined protests against racism. article and interview with Metzl in The Root by Felicia Pride
- The protest psychosis – Essay by Metzl from June 9, 2010 in Michigan Today, summarizing the book's ideas.