Edward Parker Charlesworth

Edward Parker Charlesworth (1783–1853) was an English medical doctor, known as an innovator in psychiatric treatment.

Life He was son of John Charlesworth, rector of Ossington, Nottinghamshire, and was brother of John Charlesworth, the father of Maria Louisa Charlesworth. After a pupilage with Dr. Edward Harrison of Horncastle, he went to Edinburgh, where he graduated M.D. in 1807.

Charles settled at Lincoln, where he acquired a large practice, and became physician to the Lincoln county hospital. He died of paralysis, on 20 February 1853. Charlesworth was closely linked to the Lincoln Mechanics' Institute and served as its chairman for twenty years.

Psychiatric practice From 1820 Charlesworth was visiting physician to the Lincoln Asylum for the Insane.

Knowing Harrison's private asylum and its highly coercive methods of treating the insane, Charlesworth secured the issue of an order forbidding attendants to use medical restraint or violence without the consent of the directors. He supervised the structure and arrangements of the asylum, and secured in 1821 a classification of patients and opportunities for their exercise in the open air. In 1828 he obtained an order for the display of instruments of restraint, the destruction of some, and record-keeping of cases of coercion.

Works In 1828 Charlesworth published Remarks on the Treatment of the Insane.

Family Charlesworth married a daughter of Dr. Rockcliffe of Horncastle.