David Cushing’s scientific contributions

The personal possessions of 200 chronic psychiatric patients admitted from eleven hospitals in the Birmingham Region to the regional rehabilitation hospital were studied and the number and range of this property is described. The patients had markedly fewer possessions than did inhabitants of other institutions that were studied. Women patients had more than twice as many possessions as men. The eleven hospitals varied widely in the number of their patients' possessions. Possible reasons for this are discussed. The hospital's attitude and the degree of severity of the patient's illness were found to be the most important factors. Length of stay (in the case of men), the intelligence of the patient, and the continuing existence of contact with relatives (in the case of women) were found to be subsidiary factors. Three years after the inventories of their property had been made, male patients with more possessions had responded more successfully to their course of rehabilitation regardless of their clinical condition. Given space, money and a favourable hospital attitude, patients had acquired more property. That it is humane to encourage this is not in doubt, but it is suggested that it may also be therapeutic.