In some disorders of the psyche patients behave inadequately, are prone to aggression and are able to unknowingly harm themselves, the surrounding people and objects. The answer to the question of what to do with such patients, appeared back in the days of the emergence of medicine as a science – to restrict movement and independent movement. A little later, a straitjacket appeared as a kind of special hospital uniform for patients. What is it nowadays and are there any non-standard ways to use these clothes?
Historical facts and myths
Today the first association with the definition of “straitjacket” is a psychiatric hospital. However, originally, the restraining clothing was invented to hold prison inmates. Such shirts are in the museum’s exposition of the Peter and Paul Fortress. Later, this type of clothing was borrowed from medical institutions as an alternative to the shackles in which patients were previously held. It is interesting to note that there are no generally accepted standards of strict shirt manufacturing and their classification. Straitjackets can be with or without sleeves, have a different number of straps, additional locks for attaching to the bed or other items. Sleeveless models have internal cavities to accommodate the hands. Some shirts may have straps that go between the legs as a protection against being removed through the head.
How do straitjackets work in hospitals?
Since only the most dangerous and rabid patients are usually restricted in motion, the use of strict straitjackets should be done by qualified personnel. More often than one patient is dressed by two or more orderlies with sufficient physical strength. To date, few institutions continue to use this medium. In Russia, they are quite often limited to bandages or ropes (“knitting”) to fix a patient to the bed. In the west, they increasingly prefer to regularly give patients strong sedatives to reduce nervous and physical activity. In medical circles you often hear arguments – what is more humane towards patients – a straitjacket, drugs or ropes? There is no single correct answer to this question, but it is fair to say that some modern shirts do provide a secure fixation, leaving the patient in the freest position possible.
Straitjacket: buy and put on?
Nowadays, medical straitjackets that restrict movement can be seen not only behind closed hospital doors. This accessory is often used in movies and theatrical productions to create an image of the mentally ill. Where do you go in search of such a shirt if, for example, you want to become mentally unstable for the Halloween costume ball? It is unlikely that in Russia you will be able to find this accessory even in a store of overalls or theater paraphernalia. But if you need a straitjacket very much, you can try to order it from abroad through one of the online stores of fetish clothes and paraphernalia. You can also try to make such clothes to order in the studio or with your own hands.
