« Réclamée par sa famille contre l’avis des médecins » : pouvoir et implication des familles de patients dans les processus d’internement psychiatrique à l’asile de Schaerbeek entre 1850 et 1914 ».

in Journal of Belgian History (2021), 51(4), 100-124

This article examines the influence of patients' families in the Schaerbeek asylum for the insane between 1853 and 1914. Through the examination of the institution's medico-administrative registers during ... [more ▼]

This article examines the influence of patients' families in the Schaerbeek asylum for the insane between 1853 and 1914. Through the examination of the institution's medico-administrative registers during four periods of psychiatric internment (admissions, establishment of diagnoses, social relations of the patients, and discharges), the central role played by the patients' entourage in the asylums is revealed. Between high economic capital and favorable legal provisions, families are indeed able to influence the possibilities and modalities of psychiatric internment. However, families' room for manoeuvre is not unlimited. Entries, diagnoses, social relations of patients and discharges are constantly subject to negotiation between the different holders of the asylums' power. Thus, this contribution highlights the way in which the interests of the patients' families clash with those of the asylum's management, the alienist physicians and the public authorities. [less ▲]

Review of: Tommaso Milani, 'Hendrik de Man and social democracy: The idea of planning in Western Europe, 1914-1940'

in Journal of Belgian History (2021), (1-2), 183-185

« Réclamée par sa famille contre l’avis des médecins » : pouvoir et implication des familles de patients dans les processus d’internement psychiatrique à l’asile de Schaerbeek entre 1850 et 1914 ».

in Journal of Belgian History (2021), 51(4), 100-124

This article examines the influence of patients' families in the Schaerbeek asylum for the insane between 1853 and 1914. Through the examination of the institution's medico-administrative registers during ... [more ▼]

This article examines the influence of patients' families in the Schaerbeek asylum for the insane between 1853 and 1914. Through the examination of the institution's medico-administrative registers during four periods of psychiatric internment (admissions, establishment of diagnoses, social relations of the patients, and discharges), the central role played by the patients' entourage in the asylums is revealed. Between high economic capital and favorable legal provisions, families are indeed able to influence the possibilities and modalities of psychiatric internment. However, families' room for manoeuvre is not unlimited. Entries, diagnoses, social relations of patients and discharges are constantly subject to negotiation between the different holders of the asylums' power. Thus, this contribution highlights the way in which the interests of the patients' families clash with those of the asylum's management, the alienist physicians and the public authorities. [less ▲]

Des temps d'occupations et de sorties de guerre

in Journal of Belgian History (2019), XLIX(2-3), 177--181

Compte rendu de Sebastian Bischoff/Christoph Jahr/Tatjana Mrowka/Jens Thiel (Hrsg.): Belgica terra incognita? Resultate und Perspektiven der Historischen Belgienforschung

in Journal of Belgian History (2017), 48(2/3), 259-262

De Société de Médecine Mentale de Belgique in transnationaal perspectief (1869-1900)

in Journal of Belgian History (2017), 47(4),

The Société de Médecine Mentale de Belgique (SMMB) was created in the 19 th century. This society united the Belgian psychiatrists, made knowledge sharing possible and raised awareness of problems in the ... [more ▼]

The Société de Médecine Mentale de Belgique (SMMB) was created in the 19 th century. This society united the Belgian psychiatrists, made knowledge sharing possible and raised awareness of problems in the Belgian psychiatric world. During the meetings of the society, ideas and opinions of Belgian physicians as well as their foreign colleagues, were exchanged. Until now, research on these transnational contacts, particularly in Belgium, had been very superficial. Yet, the 19th century did not only see the advent of the nation, but also of more and more transnational networks. This article aspires to fill this void by focusing on the international profiling of the SMMB and by studying the impact of foreign alienists on Belgian psychiatry. To gain scientific status in Belgium as well as abroad, the SMMB needed to position itself outside the national borders. Furthermore, the society used its foreign connections to put pressure on the government in an attempt to bring Belgian psychiatry to the same level as in its neighbouring countries. The adaptation of (inter)national ideas and debates was central to its policy and resulted, within the psychiatric community, in tensions between the national and the international level. [less ▲]

Straddling the Iron Curtain? Migrants' War Memories

in Journal of Belgian History (2009), 39