Sleep therapy and hypnotism at the turn of the 20th century in Sweden
From the 1870s onwards, magnetic – or hypnotic – sleep made a comeback in the European medical world. This revival of hypnosis was largely driven by a widely publicised debate that originated in France and quickly spread throughout Europe. It initiated a new era of research into hypnotic phenomena, with one of the leading figures being the Swedish doctor Otto Wetterstrand (1845–1907). Starting from the hypothesis that it is sleep induced by hypnosis rather than psychological suggestion that acts as the healing agent, Otto Wetterstrand was also the first to propose prolonged sleep treatments. He thus positioned himself as the pioneer of sleep therapy, which developed after him to cure nervous and mental disorders throughout the 20th century.
Drawing on the collections held at the Hagströmer Library, this lecture explores the revival of hypnosis in Sweden through the career and practice of Dr Otto Wetterstrand. The first aim is to examine how this doctor-practitioner managed to establish himself and gain recognition within Swedish and European academic networks as a specialist in suggestive hypnotic therapy. By moving the focus of the history of therapeutic hypnosis from France to Sweden, the lecture will also analyse the circulation of theories and the exchange of ideas, people and practices between different European intellectual and medical networks at the end of the 19th century. Finally, the aim is to highlight the role of Swedish doctors as the precursors of ‘sleep cures’ and as influential figures in the European neurological and psychiatric field in the 20th century.
Sophie Panziera is an historian specialised in contemporary social history. Her research focuses on the relationship between sleep, health and society in modern times. She first explored the history of sleep in a PhD thesis entitled ”Sleep in the 19th century. Norms and Imaginaries of good sleeping (1770-1914)”, completed at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University. Following on from this work, her postdoctoral research focused on sleep therapies and more broadly in social representations of healing and well-being through sleep. She is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the School of Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences (EHESS) in Paris, and the 2026 Hagströmer Fellow.
The lecture will be held in English!
TORSDAGEN 23 APRIL KL. 18.00
Hagströmerbiblioteket Haga Tingshus
Buss 515 (Odenplan) Hållplats Haga Södra
Anmälan emotses före måndag 20 april
Email: info@hagstromerbiblioteketsvanner.se Telefon: 070 555 27 36
Förfriskningar serveras, Medlemmar inträde 130 kr Icke medlemmar 180 kr.
