Manfred Sakel: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 11:34, 15 February 2025

Austrian psychiatrist known for developing insulin shock therapy

Manfred Sakel (1900–1957) was an Austrian psychiatrist who is best known for developing insulin shock therapy, a treatment for schizophrenia and other mental disorders.

Early life and education[edit]

Manfred Sakel was born on June 6, 1900, in Nadvirna, which was then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He studied medicine at the University of Vienna, where he graduated in 1925. After completing his studies, Sakel worked in various psychiatric institutions in Vienna.

Development of insulin shock therapy[edit]

File:Manfred sakel.jpg

Manfred Sakel

In the early 1930s, while working at the Lainz Hospital in Vienna, Sakel began experimenting with insulin as a treatment for drug addiction. He observed that inducing hypoglycemia in patients led to a reduction in psychotic symptoms. This observation led him to develop insulin shock therapy, also known as insulin coma therapy.

The therapy involved administering large doses of insulin to induce a hypoglycemic coma in patients. Sakel believed that the shock of the coma had a beneficial effect on the brain, leading to an improvement in psychiatric symptoms. Insulin shock therapy became widely used in the 1930s and 1940s as a treatment for schizophrenia.

Impact and legacy[edit]

Sakel's insulin shock therapy was one of the first biological treatments for mental illness and paved the way for other somatic therapies, such as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Although insulin shock therapy is no longer used today, it was an important step in the development of modern psychiatric treatments.

Later life[edit]

In 1936, Sakel emigrated to the United States due to the rise of Nazism in Europe. He continued his work in psychiatry at the New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University. Sakel remained in the United States until his death on December 2, 1957.

Related pages[edit]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox scientist
+{{short description|Austrian psychiatrist known for developing insulin shock therapy}}
-| name = Manfred Sakel
+{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
-| image = <!-- Image of Manfred Sakel -->
-| caption = Manfred Sakel, Austrian neurophysiologist
-| birth_date = [[June 6]], [[1900]]
-| birth_place = [[Nadvirna]], [[Austria-Hungary]]
-| death_date = [[December 2]], [[1957]]
-| death_place = [[New York City]], [[United States]]
-| nationality = [[Austrian]]
-| fields = [[Neurophysiology]], [[Psychiatry]]
-| known_for = [[Insulin shock therapy]]
-}}
-'''Manfred Joshua Sakel''' (June 6, 1900 – December 2, 1957) was an Austrian neurophysiologist and psychiatrist, best known for developing [[insulin shock therapy]], a controversial treatment for [[schizophrenia]] and other mental disorders.
+'''Manfred Sakel''' (1900–1957) was an Austrian [[psychiatrist]] who is best known for developing [[insulin shock therapy]], a treatment for [[schizophrenia]] and other [[mental disorders]].
-== Early Life and Education ==
+==Early life and education==
-Manfred Sakel was born in [[Nadvirna]], a town in what was then [[Austria-Hungary]] and is now part of [[Ukraine]]. He pursued his medical studies at the [[University of Vienna]], where he graduated with a degree in medicine in 1925. During his time in Vienna, Sakel developed an interest in the treatment of mental illnesses, which led him to specialize in neurophysiology and psychiatry.
+Manfred Sakel was born on June 6, 1900, in [[Nadvirna]], which was then part of the [[Austro-Hungarian Empire]]. He studied medicine at the [[University of Vienna]], where he graduated in 1925. After completing his studies, Sakel worked in various psychiatric institutions in [[Vienna]].
-== Career and Research ==
+==Development of insulin shock therapy==
-After completing his medical degree, Sakel worked at the [[University of Vienna]]'s psychiatric clinic. It was here that he began experimenting with insulin as a treatment for drug addiction and later for mental disorders. In 1933, Sakel introduced [[insulin shock therapy]], a method that involved administering large doses of insulin to induce hypoglycemic comas in patients with schizophrenia.
+[[File:Manfred_sakel.jpg|thumb|right|Manfred Sakel]]
+In the early 1930s, while working at the [[Lainz Hospital]] in Vienna, Sakel began experimenting with [[insulin]] as a treatment for [[drug addiction]]. He observed that inducing [[hypoglycemia]] in patients led to a reduction in [[psychotic]] symptoms. This observation led him to develop insulin shock therapy, also known as insulin coma therapy.
-=== Insulin Shock Therapy ===
+The therapy involved administering large doses of insulin to induce a [[hypoglycemic coma]] in patients. Sakel believed that the shock of the coma had a beneficial effect on the [[brain]], leading to an improvement in psychiatric symptoms. Insulin shock therapy became widely used in the 1930s and 1940s as a treatment for schizophrenia.
-[[Insulin shock therapy]] was based on the observation that inducing a hypoglycemic state could have a calming effect on patients with severe mental disorders. Sakel's method involved carefully controlled insulin injections to lower blood sugar levels, leading to a temporary coma. The treatment was believed to "reset" the brain and alleviate symptoms of schizophrenia.
-Sakel's therapy gained popularity in the 1930s and 1940s, particularly in Europe and the United States. However, it was not without controversy. Critics pointed out the risks associated with inducing comas, including brain damage and death. Despite these concerns, insulin shock therapy was widely used until the development of antipsychotic medications in the 1950s.
+==Impact and legacy==
+Sakel's insulin shock therapy was one of the first [[biological treatments]] for mental illness and paved the way for other [[somatic therapies]], such as [[electroconvulsive therapy]] (ECT). Although insulin shock therapy is no longer used today, it was an important step in the development of modern psychiatric treatments.
-== Later Life and Legacy ==
+==Later life==
-In 1936, Sakel emigrated to the [[United States]] due to the rise of [[Nazism]] in Europe. He continued his work in New York City, where he practiced psychiatry and further developed his insulin therapy techniques. Sakel's contributions to psychiatry were significant, as his work paved the way for future biological treatments of mental illness.
+In 1936, Sakel emigrated to the [[United States]] due to the rise of [[Nazism]] in [[Europe]]. He continued his work in psychiatry at the [[New York State Psychiatric Institute]] and [[Columbia University]]. Sakel remained in the United States until his death on December 2, 1957.
-Sakel passed away in New York City in 1957. Despite the eventual decline in the use of insulin shock therapy, his pioneering efforts in biological psychiatry are remembered as an important chapter in the history of mental health treatment.
+==Related pages==
+* [[Insulin shock therapy]]
-== Also see ==
 * [[Schizophrenia]]
 * [[Electroconvulsive therapy]]
 * [[History of psychiatry]]
-* [[Antipsychotic]]
-{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:1900 births]]
 [[Category:1957 deaths]]
 [[Category:Austrian psychiatrists]]
-[[Category:Neurophysiologists]]
 [[Category:History of psychiatry]]