Political abuse of psychiatry in the Soviet Union

Serbskij-institute

RIAN archive 101740 Yury Andropov, Chairman of KGB

Международная Леонардо-премия 38

Kiev - hospital2

A former Gulag-building, part of the recent Gulag memorial at Perm-36

Shack from Gulag - Museum of the Occupation of Latvia

Political abuse of psychiatry in the Soviet Union refers to the systematic use of psychiatric diagnosis, detention, and treatment to suppress dissent and discredit political opponents. This practice was prevalent during the Soviet era, particularly under the regimes of Joseph Stalin and Leonid Brezhnev.

Background

The Soviet Union utilized psychiatry as a tool for political repression. Individuals who opposed the government or its policies were often labeled as mentally ill and subjected to involuntary psychiatric treatment. This practice was justified by the state under the guise of protecting society from individuals deemed to be a threat due to their "mental disorders."

Methods of Abuse

The methods of political abuse of psychiatry included:

• **Diagnosis of "Sluggish Schizophrenia"**: A diagnosis often used to label political dissidents. This term was coined by Soviet psychiatrist Andrei Snezhnevsky and was characterized by symptoms that were not overtly psychotic, making it a convenient label for those who opposed the state.
• **Involuntary Commitment**: Dissidents were often committed to psychiatric hospitals without their consent. These hospitals, known as psikhushkas, were used to isolate and silence political opponents.
• **Forced Medication**: Patients were subjected to treatments such as antipsychotic drugs, which had severe side effects and were used to break the will of the detainees.
• **Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)**: This was sometimes used as a form of punishment rather than treatment.

Notable Cases

Several high-profile cases of political abuse of psychiatry in the Soviet Union include:

• Vladimir Bukovsky: A prominent dissident who was diagnosed with "sluggish schizophrenia" and spent years in psychiatric hospitals.
• Natalya Gorbanevskaya: A poet and activist who was detained in a psychiatric hospital for her involvement in the 1968 Red Square demonstration.
• Pyotr Grigorenko: A Soviet general and human rights activist who was declared insane for his opposition to the government.

International Response

The international community, including organizations such as Amnesty International and the World Psychiatric Association, condemned the Soviet Union's use of psychiatry for political purposes. In 1977, the World Psychiatric Association passed a resolution condemning the political abuse of psychiatry in the Soviet Union, leading to the country's temporary withdrawal from the organization.

Aftermath

The practice of political abuse of psychiatry in the Soviet Union began to decline in the late 1980s with the advent of Mikhail Gorbachev's policies of glasnost and perestroika. However, the legacy of these abuses has had a lasting impact on the field of psychiatry in the region and has led to ongoing efforts to reform psychiatric practices and protect human rights.

Related Pages

• Soviet Union
• Joseph Stalin
• Leonid Brezhnev
• Andrei Snezhnevsky
• Psikhushka
• Vladimir Bukovsky
• Natalya Gorbanevskaya
• Pyotr Grigorenko
• Amnesty International
• World Psychiatric Association
• Mikhail Gorbachev
• Glasnost
• Perestroika