83. Dromokaeiteio psychiatric hospital: 150 years of suppression (398)

Dimitrios Theofanidis, Staff Nurse, Nursing, TAP-OTE, Thessaloniki, Greece
Co authors: Xenofon Fitsioris & Ourania Paediaditaki
dimitrisnoni@yahoo.gr

Abstract:

Introduction:

Dromokaeiteio psychiatric hospital was founded in Athens, capital of Greece, in 1870. It was the first organized attempt to treat mental illness in the newly founded Greek state of the time. According to the definition of mental health and deviation of that era, many people were institutionalized there, for the majority of their life, and died there. Among them were great Greek scholars such as the famous poet Georgios Vizyenos, the sculpturer Gianoulis Halepas and the writer Napoleon Lapathiotis.

Aim:

The aim of this presentation was to systematically analyze and record the formal diagnosis of hospitalized Greek scholars from 1870-1920 and compare this with their artistic work.

Results:

The commonest diagnosis for hospitalization was neurosis and manic-depression state. However, these diagnoses did not correspond to their true symptoms. It was attributed to special characteristics of these patients’ personality and to clashes with their extended family and social environment, and disagreements with the dominant social values of the time.

Discussion:

Historically, a mental illness diagnosis has been frequently used as a tool of suppression. However, the writings and the rest of the artistic work produced by institutionalized scholars of that era, show that in many cases the true reason for forced hospitalization lies somewhere around the personality of those people rather than their true symptomatology.

Conclusions:

This presentation illustrates the effect of forced hospitalization at a psychiatric hospital on the artistic work and creativity of a whole generation of Greek scholars as all of them did not stop working until late life.

Biography:

Short cv dob: 31/01/1969 nationality: greek status: married, two children studies currently attending the professional doctorate in health at bath university. 1) university of liverpool: msc (nurs), 1995 2) old swan college, liverpool: tfla, 1995 3) technological educational institute of thessaloniki,bsc(nurs), 1993 4) higher school of paedagological studies, thessaloniki, greece: post graduate diploma in education, 2002 5) higher school of paedagological studies, thessaloniki, greece: post graduate diploma in counseling, 2005 6) greek national centre of continuing education: registered clinical educator, 2001 professional experience 1) 08/08/2003-today, staff nurse tap-ote (greek telecome), thessaloniki, greece 2) 04/02/2003-07/08/2003, staff nurse (orthopaedic ward), “panagia” hospital, thessaloniki, greece 3) 01/06/1999-04/02/2003, staff nurse (a&e department), "papageorgiou" hospital, thessaloniki, greece 4) 01/04/1995-30/10/1997 nurse – research assistant, stroke unit, fazakerley hospital, liverpool, uk. 5) 02/07/1993-28/08/1993 staff nurse, children’s summer camp of n. michaniona, greece. 6) 01/09/1991-30/04/1992 and 01/10/92-30/12/92 volunteer nurse, withington hospital, manchester, uk. 7) 26/11/1997-26/05/1999 nurse during the military service. teaching experience 1) 20/09/1998-28/02/2005, part time nurse tutor, department of nursing, technological educational institute of thessaloniki, greece 2) 23/09/20002-19/05/2004 part time nurse tutor, vocational nursing training institute of thessaloniki, greece editorial board member member of the international advisory board for nurse education today.