In Desperate Remedies sociologist Andrew Scull takes us through the history of psychiatry and its questionable, often harmful attempts over the years to find a cure for mental illness. Scull has thoroughly researched not just the kinds of treatments used, from lobotomies to electro-convulsive therapy and tranquilizers, but also the professional politics behind their adoption. There were times I found it a bit repetitive and didn't feel the need to know all the players Scull mentioned in each professional debate.

Perhaps unsurprisingly Desperate Remedies is a grim read, though also fascinating. I appreciated Scull's attention to intersectionality, mentioning race, class and gender differences in how patients were treated, when such data was available. The section on psychiatry today raises many important questions. Scull allows that for many patients, some treatments do have significant benefit, but highlights stalled progress, particularly for those with the most serious conditions like schizophrenia.