DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHIATRIC NURSING IN OTHER COUNTRIES:
Although the scientific findings rejected the belief that mental disturbance was the devil's work, the earliest asylums were no better than cellar dungeons. The unfortunate inmates lived and died amidst conditions of incredible filth and cruelty.
History of Psychiatric Nursing before 1860s
History of psychiatric nursing is discussed in various countries.
In France
Humanitarian reform of mental hospitals received its first credits from the work of Philippe Pinel (I 745-1 826) in France. He removed the chains from some of the inmates as an experiment to test his views that mental patients should be treated with kindness and consideration. It proved to be a great success. Chains were removed, sunny rooms were provided, patients were permitted to exercise on the hospital grounds, and kindliness was extended to them. Philippe Pinel's work brought kindness in the forefront of humane treatment for the mentally disturbed.