Racial discrimination in psychiatric treatment at Valkenberg Mental Hospital, 1933-1943

Carver, Megan

Racial discrimination in psychiatric treatment at Valkenberg Mental Hospital, 1933-1943

Master Thesis

2005

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Psychology

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Abstract

Racial discrimination in mental health treatment in South Africa was well established by the 1890's. This study shows this discrimination was perpetuated through to the 1930's and 1940's. By means of a thorough review of racial and psychiatric literature pertaining to the period, this dissertation provides a rich context in to which to place the psychiatric practice of Valkenberg Mental Hospital for the period 1933-1943. Archival research was used to investigate official hospital records of, and case records for, Valkenberg for the years 1933; 1936; 1939; 1942 and 1943. Content analysis was used to analyse the case records and identify any discrimination across diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, criminal activity of patients, deaths in patients, and readmittance. Invidual case histories were also analyzed to ascertain psychiatric practice at a more individual level. Results showed that racial discrimination was still prevalent in the psychiatric practice of Valkenberg for the period. In Valkenberg 'non-European' patients received poorer care, were given inferior therapeutic treatment and often denied access to various effective treatments. European patients on the other hand superior care and had access to all the new and effective physical methods of treatment. Non-European patients were also subject to the racist attitudes of doctors and nurses, which in turn affected the level of care they received. The records also reveal the psychiatrists of the period not only purported the racist doctrines, they were involved in theories and studies that helped justify and confirm them. (154-163 pages missing).

Keywords

Psychological Research

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