Lost Patients: "Nostalgia" Episode Summary

Introduction

In the poignant episode titled "Nostalgia" from the docuseries Lost Patients, hosted by KUOW News and Information, reporter Will James delves deep into the labyrinthine mental healthcare system in America. The episode unravels the complex history and lingering impacts of psychiatric institutions through personal narratives and historical investigations, focusing on Northern State Hospital in Washington.

A Personal Journey

The episode opens with a touching scene where three generations of women—Carrie Davidson, her mother, and her grandmother—drive through Seattle in an attempt to jog the memory of Carrie’s 95-year-old grandmother suffering from dementia. This journey leads to a startling revelation:

Carrie Davidson [00:29]: “She pipes up in the front seat, she sits up, she goes, Lillian Massey. And I was like, okay. I had never heard that name before.”

This discovery of Lillian Massey, Carrie’s great-grandmother, ignites her quest to uncover her family's hidden history connected to Northern State Hospital.

The History of Northern State Hospital

Northern State Hospital, located north of Seattle, operated as a psychiatric institution for over half a century before its closure in 1973. Once a sprawling complex with ornate buildings and lush grounds designed for healing, it symbolized both the promise and the pitfalls of psychiatric care in the United States.

Will James [02:31]: “Northern State Hospital is how psychiatric care used to look in the US—sprawling campuses of ornate buildings where people spent years or decades under the care of psychiatrists and nurses employed by the state government.”

The hospital was a product of its time—designed not only to provide care but also to serve as a source of employment and economic benefit for the small farming community of Sedro-Woolley. However, beneath its idyllic facade lay harsh realities, including overcrowding, inadequate treatments, and systemic abuses.

Carrie Davidson’s Personal Quest

Driven by the newfound knowledge of Lillian Massey’s existence, Carrie Davidson embarks on an extensive research journey to piece together her great-grandmother’s life and the circumstances that led to her institutionalization.

Carrie Davidson [04:39]: “I've done research, like, what kind of underwear did they have? And, you know, just... I don't know what they wore in the 20s. You know, I've just... tried just looking up as much as I can to figure out what it was like for her.”

Her investigation uncovers that Lillian was raped at 15, subsequently married her assailant, and later committed to Northern State Hospital at 24, possibly due to untreated syphilis.

Personal Narratives

The episode features heartfelt accounts from individuals directly connected to Northern State Hospital, illuminating the diverse experiences within the institution.

• Joanne McInnis, a nurse in the 1950s, recalls her initial fears and eventual empathetic connections with patients:

  Joanne McInnis [22:21]: “I'm going to close my eyes after you came off of the highway. There was a gate, as I remember... but I had no knowledge really of mental illness.”

• Merlin Rainwater, daughter of a former patient, shares her father Emmett’s harrowing experiences:

  Will James [24:40]: “My name is Merlin Rainwater. I grew up in the Seattle area and... my father suffered from intermittent spells of mental illness and... spent two lengthy periods of time in Northern State Hospital.”

Emmett’s own letter reveals the brutal treatments he endured, including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and shock treatments, highlighting the lack of consent and understanding during that era.

Medical Treatments and Ethical Implications

The episode delves into the controversial treatments employed at Northern State Hospital, juxtaposing the noble intentions of care with the ethical quandaries they presented.

• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT): Emmett’s vivid account describes the traumatic experience of ECT without anesthesia:

  Will James [26:44]: “He came to with a terrific headache... And he wondered how much more of this sort of treatment he could take without going completely haywire.”

• Insulin Coma Therapy: Joanne McInnis discusses her role in administering insulin coma therapy, reflecting on its dubious efficacy and risks:

  Joanne McInnis [32:06]: “I think it was just a way of control. I had a lot of doubt about what the insulin coma therapy was doing.”

• Lobotomies: The most extreme measure, lobotomies, are detailed with graphic descriptions of the procedure and its lasting impacts on patients.

  Sydney Brownstone [36:21]: “A transorbital lobotomy... the doctor would then wiggle the two instruments back and forth... destroy brain tissue in the frontal lobes.”

These treatments underscore a period when psychiatric care often prioritized control and containment over genuine healing, with devastating consequences for patients.

Reflections on Psychiatric Care

Through interviews and historical analysis, the episode explores the dual motivations behind institutions like Northern State Hospital: providing care and controlling patient behavior. This dichotomy resulted in deeply conflicting experiences and memories.

Will James [39:15]: “At places like Northern State, there were different motivations. One was to care for people... Another was to control people's behavior...”

Sydney Brownstone adds a critical perspective on the economic motivations driving these institutions:

Sydney Brownstone [40:29]: “If your inputs are always going to be cost savings... you're probably going to create a fair degree of human suffering because it doesn't center the individual and the individual's needs.”

Conclusion

"Nostalgia" poignantly captures the tangled legacy of psychiatric institutions in America through the lens of personal stories and historical scrutiny. Carrie Davidson's emotional search for Lillian Massey reveals the enduring pain and unresolved legacies left by Northern State Hospital. Meanwhile, narratives from former staff and patients highlight the complex interplay between care, control, and economic motives that shaped mental healthcare practices.

The episode serves as a powerful reminder of the human cost embedded within institutional histories and underscores the importance of transparent, compassionate mental health care to prevent the repetition of past mistakes.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Carrie Davidson [00:29]: “She pipes up in the front seat, she sits up, she goes, Lillian Massey...”

• Carrie Davidson [04:39]: “I've done research, like, what kind of underwear did they have?...”

• Joanne McInnis [22:21]: “I'm going to close my eyes after you came off of the highway...”

• Will James [26:44]: “He came to with a terrific headache...”

• Sydney Brownstone [36:21]: “A transorbital lobotomy...”

• Will James [39:15]: “At places like Northern State, there were different motivations...”

• Sydney Brownstone [40:29]: “If your inputs are always going to be cost savings...”

Lost Patients is a joint production of KUOW and the Seattle Times, providing a deeply-reported examination of America's mental healthcare challenges with real-life testimonials and solution-oriented discussions.