PMID: 11625030Jan 1, 1993Paper

Self-destructive behaviour and the health of a nation: suicide as an indicator of social well-being through its use by french psychiatry (1800-1856)

Cuadernos Complutenses de historia de la medicina y de la ciencia
J Martinez Perez

Abstract

A common practice in our socio-cultural context is that of using suicide rates as an indicator of the degree of well-being enjoyed by members of society. This article aims to investigate the origins of this practice and, through this, highlight some of the problems inherent in this method to interpreting the phenomenon of self-destruction. To this end, we shall explore the way in which a group of professionals, who were pioneers in interpreting suicide in this way and in evaluating its incidence rate--the French psychiatrists of the first half of the last century--tackled the question of the existence of deviant behaviour, (as is self-destruction) in society. At the same time we shall study how the alienists became experts in the suicide phenomenon, and shall aim to illustrate the way in which their interpretations of what this meant was conditioned as much by the ideas on madness which they advocated, as by the economic, political, social and cultural context in which the psychiatrists carried out their work.

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.