Manfred Sakel

Manfred Sakel

Manfred Sakel, Austrian neurophysiologist

Birth date	June 6, 1900
Birth place	Nadvirna, Austria-Hungary
Died	December 2, 1957
Place of death	New York City, United States
Nationality	Austrian
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.

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.

Career and Research

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.

Insulin Shock Therapy

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.

Later Life and Legacy

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.

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.

Also see

• Schizophrenia
• Electroconvulsive therapy
• History of psychiatry
• Antipsychotic