A story that had to be told: Narrative determinism and ‘The Sleep Room’

Abstract

Jon Stock’s The Sleep Room focuses on mid-century psychiatrist William Sargant, his ‘deep sleep therapy’, and other physical treatments such as ECT and insulin coma therapy. It exemplifies ‘narrative determinism’—the tendency of familiar storytelling tropes to shape historical interpretation. Stock’s emotionally charged, selectively sourced account contrasts with the complex clinical realities and ethical standards of the time. Such one-sided narratives distort public understanding, undermine trust in mental health services, and oversimplify psychiatric practice. A more balanced account, attentive to context and therapeutic intent, is needed to understand figures like Sargant and the evolution of psychiatric care. ‘Narrative determinism’, in keeping with the ideas of Hayden White, offers a way of characterising some forces shaping unhelpful historical accounts.