Until the early 1900s if a woman had symptoms like cramps, depression, or a headache, a doctor would probably diagnose her with hysteria, which was removed as a medical diagnosis in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association.

When you consider that women weren’t included in clinical trials until 1993, how much do we really know about women’s mental health? We speak to science researcher Misty Pratt about this and her book “All in Her Head: How Gender Bias Harms Women’s Mental Health.”

Got a question or comment? Email us at: mistreatedpodcast@tvo.org

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with mental health, visit any of the following resources for support: Canada.ca/mental-health Kids Help Phone Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868.

The Government of Ontario's Mental Health Support Resources: https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support

Follow TVO on social: https://www.youtube.com/theagenda https://www.instagram.com/mistreatedtvo

Join our newsletter: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters

Visit the TVO Today website for current affairs journalism, documentaries and podcasts: https://www.tvo.org

Research links

https://quillandquire.com/authors/misty-pratts-own-experiences-inspired-her-book-on-women-and-the-mental-health-care-system

https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history-quackery/history-hysteria

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/for-some-women-with-serious-physical-ailments-mental-illness-has-become-a-scapegoat-diagnosis-180986203

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/bhchar.html

https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-florida/blog/the-history-of-hysteria-and-how-it-impacts-you

https://theconversation.com/inaccurate-and-misogynistic-why-we-need-to-make-the-term-hysterectomy-history-257972#:~:text=From%20the%20defunct%20condition%20'hysteria,link%20the%20uterus%20to%20hysteria.

https://medicine.yale.edu/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/from-hysteria-to-empowerment/

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/conversion-disorder-the-modern-hysteria/73F77976DFC9802B4C0E3EC7CA88F1A9

https://adaa.org/find-help-for/women/anxiety

https://www.relationalpsych.group/articles/adhd-in-women-why-its-often-misdiagnosed

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32007945

https://www.uchealth.com/en/media-room/wellness/suicide-risk-women

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-leading-edge/202505/why-womens-mental-health-needs-special-attention

Charcot argues that hysteria isn't just a gynaecological issue but neurological disorder: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21154220/#:~:text=Results:%20In%201870%20the%20interpretation,transformed%20into%20a%20neurological%20disorder

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39186636

 

Until the early 1900s if a woman had symptoms like cramps, depression, or a headache, a doctor would probably diagnose her with hysteria, which was removed as a medical diagnosis in 1980 by the American Psychiatric Association.
When you consider that women weren&rsquo;t included in clinical trials until 1993, how much do we really know about women&rsquo;s mental health? We speak to science researcher Misty Pratt about this and her book &ldquo;All in Her Head: How Gender Bias Harms Women&rsquo;s Mental Health.&rdquo;
Got a question or comment? Email us at: <a href="mailto:mistreatedpodcast@tvo.org">mistreatedpodcast@tvo.org</a>
If you, or someone you know, is struggling with mental health, visit any of the following resources for support: Canada.ca/mental-health Kids Help Phone Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868.
The Government of Ontario's Mental Health Support Resources: <a href="https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support">https://www.ontario.ca/page/find-mental-health-support</a>
Follow TVO on social: https://www.youtube.com/theagenda <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mistreatedtvo">https://www.instagram.com/mistreatedtvo</a>
Join our newsletter: <a href="https://www.tvo.org/newsletters">https://www.tvo.org/newsletters</a>
Visit the TVO Today website for current affairs journalism, documentaries and podcasts: <a href="https://www.tvo.org">https://www.tvo.org</a>
Research links
<a href="https://quillandquire.com/authors/misty-pratts-own-experiences-inspired-her-book-on-women-and-the-mental-health-care-system">https://quillandquire.com/authors/misty-pratts-own-experiences-inspired-her-book-on-women-and-the-mental-health-care-system</a>
<a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history-quackery/history-hysteria">https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/history-quackery/history-hysteria</a>
<a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/for-some-women-with-serious-physical-ailments-mental-illness-has-become-a-scapegoat-diagnosis-180986203">https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/for-some-women-with-serious-physical-ailments-mental-illness-has-become-a-scapegoat-diagnosis-180986203</a>
<a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/bhchar.html">https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso/databank/entries/bhchar.html</a>
<a href="https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-florida/blog/the-history-of-hysteria-and-how-it-impacts-you">https://www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-florida/blog/the-history-of-hysteria-and-how-it-impacts-you</a>
<a href="https://theconversation.com/inaccurate-and-misogynistic-why-we-need-to-make-the-term-hysterectomy-history-257972#:~:text=From%20the%20defunct%20condition%20'hysteria,link%20the%20uterus%20to%20hysteria">https://theconversation.com/inaccurate-and-misogynistic-why-we-need-to-make-the-term-hysterectomy-history-257972#:~:text=From%20the%20defunct%20condition%20'hysteria,link%20the%20uterus%20to%20hysteria</a>.
<a href="https://medicine.yale.edu/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/from-hysteria-to-empowerment/">https://medicine.yale.edu/news/yale-medicine-magazine/article/from-hysteria-to-empowerment/</a>
<a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/conversion-disorder-the-modern-hysteria/73F77976DFC9802B4C0E3EC7CA88F1A9">https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/conversion-disorder-the-modern-hysteria/73F77976DFC9802B4C0E3EC7CA88F1A9</a>
<a href="https://adaa.org/find-help-for/women/anxiety">https://adaa.org/find-help-for/women/anxiety</a>
<a href="https://www.relationalpsych.group/articles/adhd-in-women-why-its-often-misdiagnosed">https://www.relationalpsych.group/articles/adhd-in-women-why-its-often-misdiagnosed</a>
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32007945">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32007945</a>
<a href="https://www.uchealth.com/en/media-room/wellness/suicide-risk-women">https://www.uchealth.com/en/media-room/wellness/suicide-risk-women</a>
<a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-leading-edge/202505/why-womens-mental-health-needs-special-attention">https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/the-leading-edge/202505/why-womens-mental-health-needs-special-attention</a>
Charcot argues that hysteria isn't just a gynaecological issue but neurological disorder: <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21154220/#:~:text=Results:%20In%201870%20the%20interpretation,transformed%20into%20a%20neurological%20disorder">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21154220/#:~:text=Results:%20In%201870%20the%20interpretation,transformed%20into%20a%20neurological%20disorder</a>
<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39186636">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39186636</a>
&nbsp;

(MIS)Treated, a TVO podcast, explores how medicine has – and still is – failing women and speaks to the people looking to make a difference. Join host Nam Kiwanuka to hear real life stories and expert interviews on how the mistreatment and misdiagnosis of women affects us all.

(MIS)Treated, a TVO podcast, explores how medicine has &ndash; and still is &ndash; failing women and speaks to the people looking to make a difference. Join host Nam Kiwanuka to hear real life stories and expert interviews on how the mistreatment and misdiagnosis of women affects us all.