Unethical Treatments in Psychology: Line Between Treatment and Torture

Understanding the human mind has long been at the center of universal intrigue, and in an attempt to do so, psychology has, more than once, blurred ethical lines.

To effectively unravel humanity’s intricacies, psychologists had to start somewhere. Unfortunately, for much of history, society lacked scientific knowledge and resources, which led to fundamentally erroneous perceptions of behavior, particularly mental illness.

This gave rise to unethical treatments in psychology, where methods like bloodletting and lobotomies perfectly capture the extremes to which psychologists have gone to understand and treat behavior-related issues.

Unlike today’s more compassionate and humane approach, these treatments had zero consideration for patients’ conditions. Although motivated by the intention of treating the human psyche, these methods were polluted by the lack of scientific understanding. In hopes of helping people, psychologists then had trodden the thin line between treatment and torture.

The Dark Past of Psychological Treatments

Globally, a significant portion of the population experience mental health conditions and seek treatment. However, this hadn’t been much of an option people openly considered back then, given the implications. The long history of unethical treatments in psychology made people so wary of mental diagnosis and treatment that they would rather avoid discussions of possible cures.

Patricia Lubeck’s Asylum Scandals perfectly captures the story of abuse, torture, corruption, and murder under the guise of psychological treatment. Her book reveals the long list of unethical treatments in psychology that actual patients had to suffer—and even then, getting better still wasn’t guaranteed.

Without the technology and scientific understanding of the human body, unethical treatments in psychology weren’t foreign matters. In fact, these can be traced back to ancient times. However, it would have been the mid-1700s when asylums became notorious for torturing the mentally ill.

When Science Crossed the Line

It would be effective as long as it helps, no matter the side effects. If unethical treatments in psychology were to be summarized in a couple of words, these would reflect their reality. Psychologists weren’t really after long-term results. Instead, they wanted symptoms to go away.

Psychology is most known for its experimental approach to finding solutions and answers. Unfortunately for the mentally ill, it seemed as though ancient medical treatments were also along those lines.

Electroshock. Lobotomy. Extreme extractions.

Even with the lack of scientific background and claims, psychologists operated on patients under extremely dire conditions. These choices were considered sound back then but banked on more religious beliefs than scientific knowledge. They were conducted under the judgment that any unusual or abnormal behaviors were signs of possession rather than cries for help.

Case Studies of Unethical Treatments in Psychology

It can be challenging to picture out what unethical treatments in psychology look like—this is a good problem. This just shows how far psychology has gone in terms of mental health diagnosis and treatments. However, to put things into perspective, here are some known cases.

Lobotomy: The Case of Patient H.M. (Henry Molaison)

A notable case of lobotomy is conducted on Henry Molaison, also known as Patient H.M. To treat his severe epilepsy, practitioners gave him a bilateral medial temporal lobectomy. This included removing parts of his hippocampus and surrounding areas. While the operation did reduce his seizures, it also had a severe side effect: anterograde amnesia.

Henry Molaison’s case raised ethical questions about lobotomy, sparking debates about unethical treatments in psychology.

Electroshock Therapy: The Case of Mr. Jones

Unlike Patient H.M., the case of Mr. Jones shows a relatively positive lens of ancient treatments in psychology. In fact, among the list of treatments, ECT or Electroshock Therapy is a procedure that has remained relevant in modern-day practices.

Mr. Jones was 35 years old when he received ECT as a treatment option after being treatment-resistant for his major depressive disorder. His self-harming tendencies were high, which prompted an inpatient admission and the consideration of ECT as treatment. His condition significantly improved, with little to no significant side effects.

However, the success of Mr. Jones’s situation doesn’t merit a generalized look at ECT’s effectiveness, primarily since this treatment has also been used as a form of punishment.

Extreme Extraction: Henry Cotton’s Procedure

Henry Cotton is the brain behind extreme extraction as a procedure for treating the mentally ill. Under the belief that insanity is caused by untreated infections, he saw extractions as a means of purging patients with their illnesses. His reasons for thinking so remain questionable, as is his contribution to the list of unethical treatments in psychology.

This case of experimentation led to a gradual spiraling out of control when Dr. Cotton observed that extracting teeth wasn’t enough treatment. He started removing other body parts like gallbladders, testicles, colons, and even stomachs. Henry Cotton is among the most notorious figures to serve as a symbol of “progress” in the wrong direction.

Modern-Day Dilemma: Establishing Ethical Boundaries in Psychology

To this day, humans are still a source of endless questions and curiosities, which means that psychology still has enough room for experimentation. Fortunately, the field has gradually veered away from unethical principles, and governing bodies have ensured that ethical expectations are firmly cemented. Guidelines for research, experiments, and psychological treatment have continued to be humane, and practitioners are firmly held accountable for any operations and decisions.

However, discussions about the history of unethical treatments in psychology remain relevant. As they say, history haunts the present, calling for continuous vigilance in the field.

A way to start doing so is by reading about the history of mental health treatments and understanding the importance of ethical oversight in the field. Grab a copy of Patricia Lubeck’s Asylum Scandals today!