title: The myth of the total institution: Written narratives of patients' views of sanatorium care 1908-1959.
abstract: Drawing on written narratives by 72 former sanatorium patients, this article explores, from patients' perspectives, the nature of the relationships between patients and staff in a Swedish sanatorium during the first half of the twentieth century. These narratives are discussed in the context of the total institution. This article suggests that this phenomenon was marked by inconsistencies that can be understood in terms of its situational and contradictory characteristics. Simultaneously, these narratives are in opposition to the assumption of the static and powerless patient adapted only to suit the logic of the institution.
authors.affiliation: Jönköping University, School of Health and Welfare, Sweden. Electronic address: Staffan.Bengtsson@ju.se.
authors.forename: Staffan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
authors.affiliation: Jönköping University, School of Health and Welfare, Sweden; Research Fellow at the Department of Social Work, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Electronic address: Pia.Bulow@ju.se.
authors.forename: Pia H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Bülow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000266:history*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D033262:Narration; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D013548:Sweden; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Letter; Narrative analysis; Patient–staff relationship; Sanatorium; Story; Sweden; Total institution