Until when was involuntary confinement the primary treatment for mentally ill patients?

Involuntary confinement being the primary treatment for mentally ill patients persisted until the mid-20th century. During this time, mental health care was largely dominated by institutionalization, where patients were confined to mental hospitals often without their consent. It was a common practice, reflecting the prevailing attitudes towards mental illness, which viewed it largely as dangerous and uncontrollable.

The mid-20th century marked a pivotal shift in mental health treatment, as advances in psychiatric understanding and the introduction of medications began to change the approach toward mental health care. This era saw a move toward deinstitutionalization, emphasizing community care and treatment approaches that prioritized patient rights. Therefore, understanding this context is crucial to recognizing why the mid-20th century is significant in the history of mental health treatment.