Hysteria and its treatment

450 BC – 1952

Do you sometimes feel nervous, irritable or sad? Headaches? Have erotic fantasies or intellectual ambitions? If you are a woman, then you might suffer from hysteria. This ancient disorder first reached epidemic proportions in the early 1900s when British doctors estimated that 75 percent of all women suffered from hysteria.

Those who could afford the latest medical care could choose from a variety of treatments for inducing ‘hysterical paroxysm.’ Options included horse riding and hydrotherapy in which a jet of water is aimed at the vagina. The most popular treatment was manual stimulation by a qualified doctor. The innovative mechanised vibrator made the procedure more efficient and less fatiguing for practitioners. It not only significantly increased the number of patients a doctor could treat, it also required less skill than manual treatment.

The American Psychiatric Association dropped the term hysteria as a recognised disorder in 1952. The story of hysteria demonstrates how medical progress is influenced by prevailing social norms and conventions. The vibrator was an exciting medical innovation that teaches us that innovation failure is not limited to technology. Failure is sometimes ideological. 

Additional info:
Mcgill.ca – The History of Hysteria
Sciencedirect.com – A brief history of hysteria:
Glamour.com – The History of Doctors Diagnosing Women With Hysteria
Antiquevibratormuseum.com – yup, an entire museum!
Vice.com – Hysterical: A Timeline of Vintage Vibrators

Trailer for the 2011 romantic comedy Hysteria: