31:
360:
253:) was effective in producing a "lucid interval," wherein catatonic patients could converse normally, respond to questions appropriately, move about nimbly, and provide information about their thought processes and backgrounds that would otherwise have been impossible to obtain. The latter benefit of the treatment was given the names "narcoanalysis" or "narcosynthesis." In a short time, the amytal-induced "lucid interval" became a proof-positive test for the diagnosis of catatonia.
371:"Colonel William J. Bleckwenn rendered distinguished service as Consultant in Neuropsychiatry, Sixth Service Command, from July 1944 to November 1945. With a background of rich experience in the actual handling of nervous and mental casualties in the combat area, he displayed unusual foresight and understanding in organizing the program of treatment for mentally-disabled returnees."
278:"His silent films show the patients as mute, posturing, rigid, with heads raised fixedly from the pillow, and then responding dramatically to multigram doses of amobarbital. The films were convincing, and amobarbital was quickly and widely used to obtain clinical histories and to allow feeding and self-care."
237:
Upon completion of his training, Bleckwenn was asked to join Lorenz and Reese on the staff of WPI, which had by then become part of the UW Department of
Neuropsychiatry. He quickly acquired skill as an administrator and researcher, becoming assistant director of the institute in the late 1920s.
389:
Bleckwenn returned to UW in early 1946 to resume his practice and his teaching duties as
Professor of Neuropsychiatry. He continued research on narcoanalysis and the use of targeted neurosurgical procedures in the management of chronic pain. As other psychiatric treatments—such as
414:, in 1954. However, he was never well enough to actively practice neurology or psychiatry again, forcing a medical retirement. He died of an aortic aneurysm on January 6, 1965. He was preparing to have surgery on the aneurysm by his friend, famed heart surgeon,
310:") under the command of Lt. Gen. Stanley Embrick, which were undertaken because of the imminence of U.S. involvement in World War II. In 1941, Bleckwenn was called to active duty and attached to the 135th medical regiment. That unit operated as part of the U.S.
342:. In addition to his administrative command duties, Bleckwenn functioned as a treating neurologist and psychiatrist; he also participated in establishing the "consultant system" of military psychiatric care, under the overall direction of Brig. Gen.
294:(cocculin)-- a neurostimulatory plant product—were effective as an antidote in that setting. However, over time, the narrow therapeutic window associated with picrotoxin administration—which can also induce seizures—resulted in its disuse.
1005:
1000:
290:
As an extension of his work on barbiturate therapy, Bleckwenn and Mabel Masten also studied the reversal of overdosage by amobarbital in the mid-1930s. They found that dilute intravenous solutions of
306:
as a medical student, and had remained in the
Reserve Medical Corps after completing his medical degree. He took part in the U.S. Army training maneuvers in 1940 and 1941 in central Louisiana (the "
197:, in 1895. He received his elementary and secondary education there in public city schools, graduating from high school at the top of his class. He then enrolled at the
210:
85:
970:
434:, with his wife Marion (née Dougan, 1896–1982) and son William Jr. (1923–1947). The Bleckwenns also had two other children, Jane and A. Theodore (Ted).
731:
276:" Bleckwenn was forward-thinking regarding the documentation of these effects, making motion pictures of the process. Of those, Fink says
398:, and early psychotropic agents—entered clinical practice in psychiatry, Bleckwenn also took an active role in their use and evaluation.
990:
205:- Med. degree in 1917 as part of an accelerated medical course of study. As an undergraduate, Bleckwenn was an accomplished athlete in
1020:
1015:
427:
314:
and was tasked with management of frontline casualties. After the United States entered the war, the 135th shipped out to the
315:
177:, who was instrumental in developing the treatment known as "narcoanalysis" or "narcosynthesis", also known by the lay term "
995:
198:
150:
81:
1010:
985:
980:
975:
378:
274:
Periods of from four to fourteen hours of a normal lucid interval have been a constant result of the treatment.
221:
in New York and at the
Wisconsin Psychiatric Institute (WPI) in Madison. At WPI, he came under the tutelage of
303:
878:
Erickson TC, Bleckwenn WJ, Woolsey CN (1952). "Observations on the post-central gyrus in relation to pain".
929:
30:
469:
Hansotia P, Reynolds NC Jr (2004). "The history of neurology in
Wisconsin: the early years, 1907–1957".
374:
395:
206:
311:
238:
Around that time, Bleckwenn also began investigational studies on the use of barbiturates to treat
407:
280:
Psychiatrists across the world became enthused by sodium amytal therapy. In his text entitled "
640:
546:
Tollefson GD (1982). "The amobarbital interview in the differential diagnosis of catatonia".
411:
410:
in the early 1950s. In the hope that a change of venue would improve his health, he moved to
70:
786:
965:
960:
8:
307:
286:"Some observers view Bleckwenn's procedure as the real beginning of psychopharmacology."
713:
665:
Bleckwenn WJ: "Catatonic cases after intravenous sodium amytal injection (videotape)".
431:
214:
140:
559:
524:
887:
772:
705:
613:
563:
528:
478:
359:
343:
218:
717:
232:
821:
768:
759:
Bleckwenn WJ, Masten MG (1938). "Antidotal treatment of barbiturate intoxication".
695:
636:
609:
555:
520:
55:
256:
Bleckwenn published his findings on this topic in 1930, in landmark papers in the
415:
350:
270:
the catatonic patient has shown some extremely interesting and striking responses
190:
111:
47:
825:
700:
683:
581:
Bleckwenn WJ (1930). "Sodium amytal in certain nervous and mental conditions".
511:
Naples M, Hackett TP (1978). "The amytal interview: history and current uses".
222:
954:
391:
246:
194:
51:
217:
from that institution in 1920. Bleckwenn then pursued residency training at
891:
709:
482:
170:
567:
532:
335:
250:
178:
166:
930:
http://www.surroundedbyreality.com/Cem/FHill/Pics8/Bleckwenn02-Nov08.jpg
627:
Bleckwenn WJ (1930). "Production of sleep and rest in psychotic cases".
406:
Despite an athletic build and hearty manner, Bleckwenn developed severe
323:
291:
226:
132:
101:
318:
in March 1942. Bleckwenn was its commanding officer, with the rank of
1006:
Columbia
University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons alumni
331:
239:
174:
136:
97:
1001:
University of
Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health alumni
839:
128:
942:
459:. Madison, Wis.: University of Wisconsin Press, 1967; pp. 124-134.
457:
The
University of Wisconsin Medical School: A Chronicle, 1848-1948
319:
233:
Career in neurology and psychiatry at the
University of Wisconsin
35:
Colonel
William Bleckwenn in Australia, 1943 (US Army Photograph)
684:"Catatonia: a syndrome appears, disappears, and is rediscovered"
349:
For his contributions during the war, Bleckwenn was awarded the
339:
327:
242:
498:
Fifth biennial report of the Wisconsin Psychiatric Institute
209:, especially in the hammer throw. Bleckwenn enrolled at the
426:
Magazine and on national CBS radio. Bleckwenn is buried at
202:
787:
http://www.historynet.com/louisiana-maneuvers-1940-41.htm
749:, Oxford University Press, New York, NY, 2005; pp. 50-51.
877:
852:
Anonymous: Awards & citations in neuropsychiatry.
249:. He and Lorenz found that intravenous sodium amytal (
211:
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
86:
Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
812:
Bleckwenn WJ (1945). "Neuroses in the combat zone".
501:, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI, 1924.
297:
165:(July 23, 1895 – January 6, 1965) was an American
952:
468:
758:
510:
401:
600:Bleckwenn WJ (1930). "Narcosis as therapy".
184:
262:Journal of the American Medical Association
811:
699:
626:
599:
580:
545:
641:10.1001/archneurpsyc.1930.02220140141010
358:
971:University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty
451:
449:
447:
266:Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry,
953:
282:A Historical Dictionary of Psychiatry,
746:A Historical Dictionary of Psychiatry
681:
444:
418:. His passing was mentioned in the
495:Lorenz WF, Reese HH, Bleckwenn WJ:
268:In the JAMA paper, he stated that "
245:, a particularly disabling form of
13:
14:
1032:
991:Recipients of the Legion of Merit
369:His governmental citation reads:
1021:20th-century American physicians
1016:Scientists from New York (state)
840:http://www.smcaf.org/History.htm
773:10.1001/jama.1938.02790320016005
614:10.1001/jama.1930.02720160028009
298:Military service in World War II
29:
936:
922:
910:
898:
871:
859:
846:
832:
805:
793:
779:
752:
737:
724:
675:
659:
384:
647:
620:
593:
574:
539:
504:
489:
462:
379:Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
322:(O6). The 135th saw action in
302:Bleckwenn had enlisted in the
1:
560:10.1016/s0033-3182(82)73407-3
525:10.1016/s0033-3182(78)71020-0
437:
316:Pacific Theater of Operations
304:Wisconsin Army National Guard
7:
996:People from Astoria, Queens
163:William Jefferson Bleckwenn
10:
1037:
826:10.7326/0003-4819-23-2-177
701:10.1177/070674370905400704
402:Illness, death, and family
375:World War II Victory Medal
258:Wisconsin Medical Journal;
1011:Physicians from Wisconsin
986:American military doctors
396:electroconvulsive therapy
185:Early years and education
156:
146:
124:
117:
107:
92:
77:
63:
40:
28:
21:
373:Bleckwenn also held the
364:The U.S. Legion of Merit
353:(with Oak Leaf Cluster)
67:January 6, 1965 (age 69)
886:(77th Meeting): 57–59.
669:1930, Washington, D.C.,
408:coronary artery disease
199:University of Wisconsin
151:University of Wisconsin
82:University of Wisconsin
981:American psychiatrists
629:Arch Neurol Psychiatry
366:
355:(see figure at right).
284:" Shorter states that
189:Bleckwenn was born in
976:American neurologists
933:, Accessed 9-19-2009.
880:Trans Am Neurol Assoc
843:, Accessed 9-19-2009.
790:, Accessed 9-19-2009.
734:, Accessed 9-20-2009.
412:Winter Haven, Florida
362:
71:Winter Haven, Florida
16:American psychiatrist
428:Forest Hill Cemetery
23:William J. Bleckwenn
856:1946; 103: 118-122.
308:Louisiana Maneuvers
201:in 1913, earning a
943:Accessed 6-15-2011
432:Madison, Wisconsin
367:
213:. He received his
141:Psychopharmacology
344:William Menninger
219:Bellevue Hospital
207:track & field
160:
159:
119:Scientific career
1028:
945:
940:
934:
926:
920:
914:
908:
902:
896:
895:
875:
869:
863:
857:
850:
844:
836:
830:
829:
809:
803:
797:
791:
783:
777:
776:
756:
750:
741:
735:
728:
722:
721:
703:
688:Can J Psychiatry
679:
673:
663:
657:
651:
645:
644:
624:
618:
617:
597:
591:
590:
578:
572:
571:
543:
537:
536:
508:
502:
493:
487:
486:
466:
460:
453:
33:
19:
18:
1036:
1035:
1031:
1030:
1029:
1027:
1026:
1025:
951:
950:
949:
948:
941:
937:
927:
923:
915:
911:
903:
899:
876:
872:
864:
860:
854:Am J Psychiatry
851:
847:
837:
833:
810:
806:
798:
794:
784:
780:
757:
753:
742:
738:
729:
725:
682:Fink M (2009).
680:
676:
664:
660:
652:
648:
625:
621:
598:
594:
579:
575:
544:
540:
509:
505:
494:
490:
467:
463:
454:
445:
440:
416:Michael Debakey
404:
387:
351:Legion of Merit
300:
235:
191:Astoria, Queens
187:
173:, and military
112:Legion of Merit
78:Alma mater
73:
68:
59:
58:, United States
48:Astoria, Queens
45:
36:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1034:
1024:
1023:
1018:
1013:
1008:
1003:
998:
993:
988:
983:
978:
973:
968:
963:
947:
946:
935:
921:
909:
897:
870:
858:
845:
831:
820:(2): 177–183.
814:Ann Intern Med
804:
792:
778:
767:(6): 504–507.
751:
736:
723:
694:(7): 437–445.
674:
671:NLM ID8501040A
658:
646:
635:(2): 365–375.
619:
592:
573:
554:(4): 437–438.
548:Psychosomatics
538:
513:Psychosomatics
503:
488:
461:
442:
441:
439:
436:
403:
400:
386:
383:
299:
296:
234:
231:
223:William Lorenz
186:
183:
158:
157:
154:
153:
148:
144:
143:
126:
122:
121:
115:
114:
109:
105:
104:
94:
93:Known for
90:
89:
79:
75:
74:
69:
65:
61:
60:
46:
42:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1033:
1022:
1019:
1017:
1014:
1012:
1009:
1007:
1004:
1002:
999:
997:
994:
992:
989:
987:
984:
982:
979:
977:
974:
972:
969:
967:
964:
962:
959:
958:
956:
944:
939:
932:
931:
925:
918:
913:
906:
901:
893:
889:
885:
881:
874:
867:
862:
855:
849:
842:
841:
835:
827:
823:
819:
815:
808:
801:
796:
789:
788:
782:
774:
770:
766:
762:
755:
748:
747:
740:
733:
732:
727:
719:
715:
711:
707:
702:
697:
693:
689:
685:
678:
672:
668:
667:Natl Libr Med
662:
655:
650:
642:
638:
634:
630:
623:
615:
611:
608:: 1168–1171.
607:
603:
596:
588:
584:
577:
569:
565:
561:
557:
553:
549:
542:
534:
530:
526:
522:
519:(2): 98–105.
518:
514:
507:
500:
499:
492:
484:
480:
476:
472:
465:
458:
452:
450:
448:
443:
435:
433:
429:
425:
421:
417:
413:
409:
399:
397:
393:
392:insulin shock
382:
380:
376:
372:
365:
361:
357:
356:
352:
347:
345:
341:
337:
333:
329:
325:
321:
317:
313:
309:
305:
295:
293:
288:
287:
283:
279:
275:
271:
267:
263:
259:
254:
252:
248:
247:schizophrenia
244:
241:
230:
228:
224:
220:
216:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
195:New York City
192:
182:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
155:
152:
149:
145:
142:
138:
134:
130:
127:
123:
120:
116:
113:
110:
106:
103:
99:
95:
91:
87:
83:
80:
76:
72:
66:
62:
57:
53:
52:New York City
49:
44:July 23, 1895
43:
39:
32:
27:
20:
938:
928:
924:
916:
912:
904:
900:
883:
879:
873:
865:
861:
853:
848:
838:
834:
817:
813:
807:
799:
795:
785:
781:
764:
760:
754:
745:
744:
739:
730:
726:
691:
687:
677:
670:
666:
661:
653:
649:
632:
628:
622:
605:
601:
595:
586:
582:
576:
551:
547:
541:
516:
512:
506:
497:
496:
491:
477:(7): 37–41.
474:
470:
464:
456:
423:
419:
405:
388:
385:Later career
370:
368:
363:
354:
348:
301:
289:
285:
281:
277:
273:
269:
265:
264:(JAMA), and
261:
257:
255:
236:
188:
171:psychiatrist
162:
161:
147:Institutions
118:
96:Research in
966:1965 deaths
961:1895 births
743:Shorter E:
422:section of
336:Philippines
251:amobarbital
179:truth serum
167:neurologist
955:Categories
802:., Ref. 1.
589:: 693–696.
455:Clark PF:
438:References
420:Milestones
324:New Guinea
312:Sixth Army
292:picrotoxin
227:Hans Reese
133:Psychiatry
102:Psychiatry
919:, Ref. 1.
907:., Ref. 3
868:; p. 118.
583:Wis Med J
471:Wis Med J
332:Kwajalein
240:catatonic
175:physician
137:Neurology
98:Neurology
892:13038792
718:44352453
710:19660165
656:. Ref. 9
483:15696831
377:and the
129:Medicine
84:(B.S.);
56:New York
917:Op cit.
568:7079444
320:colonel
905:Op cit
890:
800:Op cit
716:
708:
654:Op.cit
566:
533:628696
531:
481:
340:Saipan
338:, and
334:, the
328:Tarawa
243:mutism
125:Fields
108:Awards
100:&
88:(M.D.)
714:S2CID
888:PMID
866:Ibid
761:JAMA
706:PMID
602:JAMA
564:PMID
529:PMID
479:PMID
424:Time
260:the
225:and
215:M.D.
203:B.S.
64:Died
41:Born
822:doi
769:doi
765:111
696:doi
637:doi
610:doi
556:doi
521:doi
475:103
430:in
181:".
957::
884:56
882:.
818:23
816:.
763:.
712:.
704:.
692:54
690:.
686:.
633:24
631:.
606:95
604:.
587:29
585:.
562:.
552:23
550:.
527:.
517:19
515:.
473:.
446:^
394:,
381:.
346:.
330:,
326:,
272:.
229:.
193:,
169:,
139:;
135:;
131:;
54:,
50:,
894:.
828:.
824::
775:.
771::
720:.
698::
643:.
639::
616:.
612::
570:.
558::
535:.
523::
485:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
