No Brakes

Psychiatrists believe that there is a large group of people in the U.S.--perhaps half a million--who are legally sane (i.e., they know the difference between right & wrong) but socially irresponsible. Many of them are brilliant and charming. Their condition is likened to a fine automobile with no brakes. At any time they may steal, maim or kill, and when they do they will feel little or no remorse.

Doctors have never been able to do anything for such cases. Even the attempt to find a name for the condition has only added to the confusion. In the 19th Century, victims of this mental illness were called "morally insane." Later they were called "constitutional psychopathic individuals" (C.P.I.s), or "psychopathic personalities." No progress toward a cure could be expected when the condition could not even be studied effectively: there was no legal basis for confining victims against their will, and no place to which they could be persuaded to go, to help doctors to help them.

Last week a brave band of experts and laymen met in New York City to ponder the problem. They called themselves the Foundation for the Emotionally Unstable, suggested that the term "emotionally unstable" is more enlightening and less derogatory than the old names. The foundation's first job: to collect what little is known about the emotionally unstable. Then would come research into causes, treatments, cures. Finally, the foundation workers hope, both government and private institutions can be set up to give protection and care to the emotionally unstable before their unbraked emotions get them into trouble with the law.

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