Introduction: Deinstitutionalisation and the Pathways of Post-War Psychiatry in the Western World

Abstract

The introduction provides a historical context for the psychiatric deinstitutionalisation that occurred in most Western countries during the second half of the twentieth century. It presents a working definition of deinstitutionalisation, but also teases out some of the nuances connected to the term. The introduction begins by examining the precursors of deinstitutionalisation prior to the Second World War, including the impact of the child guidance and mental hygiene movements, before exploring the impact of the War on psychiatry and ideas about mental health. It then proceeds to analyse the specific triggers of deinstitutionalisation, touching on the intellectual, political, economic, technological and cultural factors that helped to drive the process. The introduction also touches on how deinstitutionalisation varied in different countries, and outlines the ramifications of the process in recent decades. It concludes by summarising the volume’s chapters and reflecting on what can be learned from the legacy of deinstitutionalisation.