A fair amount of research went into the writing of my debut novel, We Are Monsters. In order to make it realistic (well, as realistic as a paranormal horror story can be), I needed to know as much about certain mental disorders and how we’ve historically treated them as I could.

What I learned was horrifying. In fact, I’d say the true story of how we’ve historically treated the mentally ill is far scarier than my fictional one. I showcase some of the more barbaric so-called therapies in a two part series, posted on the websites of esteemed authors, Catherine Cavendish and Brian Moreland.

Learn about the “Continuous Bath” and the “Tranquilizer Chair,” which are not nearly as delightful as they sound.

Click Here for Part I

Click Here for Part II

                       Continuous+Bath       Tranquilizer chair