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Introduction
At the turn of the twentieth century, white upper-middle-class Americans dealt with a recently discovered or imagined mental illness disease known as Neurasthenia. This disease was invented to address “American men’s anxiety about the decline of the American pastoral ideal caused by the closure of the frontier.” -
Edwin H. Van Deusen Also Provides Description of Disease
Edwin H. Van Deusen, an alienist (psychiatrist), and superintendent of the Michigan Asylum for the Insane at Kalamazoo also wrote a description for neurasthenia as "'a distinct form of disease" caused by "excessive mental labor, especially when conjoined with anxiety and deficient nourishment.'" This description was published in his article "Observations on a Form of Nervous Prostration, Culminating in Insanity." -
Discovery of Isolation and Loneliness as Catalysts
In his published work, “Observations on a Form of Nervous Prostration, (Neurasthenia,) Culminating in Insanity” Van Deusen also discovered that isolation and loneliness were catalysts for neurasthenia. He discovered this by recognizing young wives who lived in a "'isolated farm-house,' who led a monotonous household life lacking a 'requisite measure of social and intellectual recreation' as prone to this new disease." -
George M. Beard Popularizes the Term
In 1869, neurologist George M. Beard popularized the term "neurasthenia" in his works during this time period to characterize neurological symptoms that ranged from something as simple as stress to severe neuroses. Other names for this disease include nervous exhaustion and nervous prostration. -
Freud and Breuer Publish "Studies on Hysteria"
Sigmund Freud, in collaboration with Josef Breuer published "Studies on Hysteria," which laid the groundwork for psychoanalytic theories of trauma and psychopathology, which have relevance to the understanding of neurasthenia. Neurasthenia, like hysteria, was often associated with traumatic experiences and unresolved conflicts, and Freud's theories provided a framework for understanding how these factors could manifest as physical and psychological symptoms. -
Beard Reveals Fictitious Nature of Neurasthenia
In the same published work in 1881, Beard describes how the symptoms of the disease are not simply constrained to pathological reasons as he lists fears such as contamination, everything, deficient mental control, etc. and then notes that the list of symptoms "isn't supposed to be complete," which highlights this imaginary aspect of the disease. -
Modern Stimulations Perpetuate Neurasthenia
Beard claims in his published work entitled "American Nervousness: Its Causes and Consequences" in 1881 that the complex stimulations of modern civilizations have increased the "tempo of both business and daily life squandered urban Americans' finite supply of nervous force and thus forced them to suffer from neurasthenia." -
Beard and Rockwell Discuss Electric Therapy for Disease Treatment
George M. Beard and A.D. Rockwell publish "A Practical Treatise on the Medical and Surgical Uses of Electricity" which discusses the use of electric therapy for neurasthenia and other nervous disorders. -
Dr. Ransophier's Electric Magnetic Appliance
Dr. Ransophier's electric magnetic appliance as a form of electrotherapy, meaning the application of electricity to the patient's body, was suggested as one way to cure these supposed symptoms of neurasthenia. -
Charles L. Dana and Physicians Become Skeptical
A renaissance in psychiatry occurred in the early 20th century in which American physicians started to become doubtful of the validity of the diagnosis of neurasthenia.
Charles L. Dana published "The Partial Passing of Neurasthenia" in which he states that "a large number of these so-called neurasthenias and all the hysterias should be classed as prodromal stages, abortive types or shadowy imitations of great psychoses." -
Myers Publishes "A Contribution to the Study of Shell Shock"
Charles Samuel Myers published "A Contribution to the Study of Shell Shock," which explores the psychological effects of war and introduces the term "shell shock," which is later understood to overlap with neurasthenia. His discussion of therapeutic approaches such as rest, reassurance and psychotherapy aligns with the treatment strategies commonly employed during the time for neurasthenia. Both conditions require involvement of medical, psychological and social interventions. -
Bibliography
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Conclusion
Neurasthenia diagnoses justified racial hierarchies favoring whites and reinforced notions of male superiority over women. It became emblematic of American values and anxieties, addressing concerns over the loss of the frontier and legitimizing exclusionary techniques. As the cultural and political landscape shifted, the decline of neurasthenia mirrored changes in societal attitudes rather than the absence of mental disorders among men.