Inventing “Arctic Hysteria”

What does it take to invent a disease?

This talk outlines the rise and fall of “arctic hysteria,” a DSM-identified condition diagnosable exclusively among Arctic Indigenous peoples. 

“Arctic hysteria” emerged in the diaries of settler explorers as a term for an imagined Indigenous-specific form of madness. Throughout the 20th century, researchers transformed these vague claims into a medical disorder tied to Indigenous culture and “race.” In 1969 Alaska, American scientists colluded with state authorities to produce evidence of the disorder through a profoundly unethical psychiatric study. Citing this study, the American Psychiatric Association formally classified “arctic hysteria” in 1994. 

This talk on the scientific construction of “arctic hysteria” will dive into the power and politics of diagnostic language. The discussion will contextualize the critical importance of Indigenous sovereignty in contemporary healthcare and health research.

Jessica Casey (she/her) is a Master’s student in Science and Technology Studies at UBC. She studies the history and philosophy of medicine, investigating the colonial history of disease classification. Her research interests are guided by her family’s passion for Indigenous health and their roots in Nunatsiavut (Inuit), as well as her own frontline work in community health. She holds a BA from the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Jess is a Newfoundlander who loves folk music, crosswords, and hosting elaborate themed events.