Restrained : a journey through psychosis as a doctor and the search for compassionate care

What happens when the one wearing the white coat suddenly finds herself lying restrained in a psychiatric ward?

In Restrained, physician Maria Ingström shares her raw and unforgettable story of falling into psychosis, being subjected to coercive care, and finding her way back to life and medicine. With both the vulnerability of a patient and the authority of a doctor, she opens a window into a world too often silenced by stigma and shame.

The book exposes the harsh realities of psychiatric care: isolation, restraint, and the deep sense of powerlessness that follows. But it also carries a powerful message of resilience, recovery, and the urgent need for change. Ingström sheds light on systemic flaws and raises the question of how psychiatry can truly serve those in crisis. Through international examples, such as Finland’s groundbreaking Open Dialogue model, she demonstrates that alternatives exist – paths toward a psychiatry rooted in respect, dialogue, and compassion.

Restrained is more than a memoir. It is a manifesto for a more humane mental health care system, a voice for those who have been silenced, and a reminder that tomorrow it could be any of us – or someone we love – in need of care.

For healthcare professionals, policymakers, relatives, and readers who care about building a more compassionate society, this is an essential and transformative read.