Syracuse Psychopathic Hospital, aftewards Syracuse Psychiatric
Hospital
Syracuse Psychopathic Hospital,
afteRwards Syracuse Psychiatric Hospital
Onondaga
County Medical Society, 1906-1956, The
Onondaga County Medical Society?, Syracuse? 1956, pp. 66-67.
A lecture heard in New York City in
1925 inspired the establishment of Syracuse Psychopathic
Hospital. Dr. Herman G. Weiskotten, dean of Syracuse University
College of Medicine, heard the lecture, in which Dr. C. Floyd Haviland
outlined the then proposed Columbia-Presbyterian project and announced
the participation of the State Hospital Commission in it. The
creation of a medical center at Syracuse was just then under
consideration, and Dr. Weiskotten returned home convinced that it
should contain a psychiatric unit.
The idea was promptly seconded by the chancellor of the university, Dr.
Charles W. Flint, who agreed that if a psychiatric hospital was
regarded as essential in the New York City undertaking it was even more
necessary at Syracuse, the only large city in the state not served
directly by a state hospital. The lack of such a facility was
felt not only by the university medical faculty but by the people of
Onondaga, Madison, Cortland, Oswego and Cayuga counties, as it was
estimated that 300 mental patients came yearly from the area which had
a rural population of 500,000 in addition to the city's 200,000.
Syracuse had only a four-bed municipal "hospital" to comply with the
mental hygiene law prohibiting detention of psychotic persons in jails
while awaiting commitment.
The very active Onondaga County Health Association mental hygiene
committee lent warm support to the new plan; the State Hospital
Commission and the Board of Estimate and Control acknowledged the need
for more adequate provision for mental patients; Syracuse University
offered to donate land for the purpose; and finally, the state
legislature acted to authorize establishment of the hospital by the
laws of 1926.
By the end of 1930 construction of the T-shaped, 3-story building was
sufficiently advanced so that it was possible to furnished some
rooms. On December 26 the first patient arrived. From then
on patients were received steadily, although it had not been intended
to open the hospital until the following year. Acceleration of
admissions was made necessary by the closing, sooner than expected, of
the old municipal facility.
With a capacity of 60 beds, the new hospital was designed for the
reception of borderline and acutely psychotic persons who were to be
studied, diagnosed and treated, and wherever possible returned to the
community in a relatively short time. An amendment made to
include state institutions in that section of the mental hygiene law
pertaining to temporary observation permitted holding patients on that
basis for 30 days (later changed to 60 days) without court
certification. Few patients have been retained longer than
the observation period; if not recovered by that time, they are
certified for transfer to larger state hospitals better prepared to
handle continued treatment cases, although this has been necessary for
only about one-third of the 15,000 patients admitted in the past 25
years. Patients are referred by physicians, social agencies,
health officers and judges, and in many instances by former patients
who have returned home after making satisfactory adjustments in the
hospital.
For many years the hospital has been active in the teaching of
the medical students and interns. There is also a regular course
of instruction for the residents of the upstate institutions of the
Department of Mental Hygiene. On February 18, 1953, this hospital
was officially approved for three years of training, thus meeting fully
the requirements of the American Board of Neurology and Psychiatry for
the diplomat's examination. Our teaching program included
facilities for social workers and psychological interns.
The treatment program continues to be emphasized. Individual
psychotherapy is used to the largest extent possible. With the
discovery of the new tranquilizing drugs, which have been used
extensively in this hospital since 1954, fewer patients have required
shock therapy, although this former treatment still continues to be of
great value.
Occupational Therapy has been a part of the treatment program since the
first year, with all patients performing some sort of work and
attending classes. The usual arts and crafts have been
introduced, and articles are made to be used in the hospital or
sold at Christmas time. Suitable recreation has been introduced
as part of the therapeutic program. There are frequent parties
with card games and dancing. The patients' library, which is also
managed by this department, contains several hundred books which are
freely used by the patients.
The hospital contains a small laboratory, in addition to which the
staff has ready access to the University and County laboratories.
Among the subjects of research have been amphetamine therapy, clinical
use of barbital preparations, treatment of Parkinsonian syndromes,
antabuse therapy in alcoholism, and for the past two years there has
been intensive research on the newer drugs Chlorpromazine, Reserpine,
Ritalin, and Meprobromate. Quite recently an arrangement was made
with the New York State University College of Medicine allowing them
the use of one ward for the training of residents and students.
The first clinic at the Syracuse Psychopathic Hospital was conducted in
January, 1931. At present clinics are scheduled for every
afternoon with three mornings a week being used for intake interviews
by the social service department. These clinics are well attended
and serve not only discharged patients but people of all ages from the
community and also follow-up and after-care cases from the various
state hospitals who reside in Syracuse and vicinity.
Psychological examinations are given to children and adults referred by
psychiatrists and by various agencies. Electroencephalographic
services were provided for by the New York State Boxing Commission and
the various social agencies when referred by the attending
physicians. Consultation services are also provided to various
Courts in order to help in the rehabilitation of the offenders.
The aim of the hospital has always been to enlarge its usefulness to
the community.
Text Source: A
Short History of Hospitals in Syracuse, SUNY
Upstate Medical University: Health Services Library:
Historical
Collections:
http://www.upstate.edu/library/history/hospitals.shtml
Having a separate psychiatric hospital in Syracuse was the idea of
Herman G. Weiskotten, M.D., Dean of the Syracuse University College of
Medicine. At his urging, in 1926 the New York State legislature
authorized the creation of Syracuse Psychopathic Hospital on land
donated by Syracuse University at the corner of Irving Avenue and Adams
Street. The first patient was admitted in 1930; the first clinic was
held in 1931. name changed to Syracuse Psychiatric
Hospital.
Submitted 17 March 2006 by
Pamela
Priest