In the Sleep Room: The Story of The CIA Brainwashing Experiments in Canada

Collins, Anne

Primary Category: Literature / Nonfiction

Duffin, Jacalyn

Date of entry: Mar-04-1997

Summary

A journalistic account of the CIA-funded experiments in "psychic-driving" of Dr. Ewen Cameron at Montreal's Allan Memorial Institute in the 1950's and early 1960's. Cameron investigated "treatment" for various forms of depression, consisting of high-dose electroshock (Page-Russell variant), heavy sedation, and the repetetive playing of patient's or the doctor's recorded voice.

Many patients did not respond; some were destroyed by the technique. Particularly moving is the story of Mary Morrow (Chapter 9), a physician-patient whose career was damaged by her experiences. Cameron held the most prominent positions in professional psychiatry; he died unscathed by his questionable research and in pursuit of yet another goal, a mountain peak.

Commentary

The CIA interest in these experiments has been explained as a product of concern over the perceived threat of Soviet brain-washing as a weapon of subversion during the Cold War. This account is based on interviews with patient-survivors, their family members, other caregivers, and those involved in the lawsuits pending at the time of writing. In contrast to Harvey Weinstein's autobiographical version of the same events (Father, Son, and CIA, see this database), this account places more emphasis on Cameron and his career.

Publisher

Lester & Orpen Dennys

Place Published

Toronto

Edition

1988

Page Count

272