The hospital drew ideas from physician Dr. Philippe Pinel’s Moral Treatment, an idea used to benefit patients with mental illnesses when little was known about diagnosis, causes, or treatment of mental disorders. Developed in France, ideas like having a structured schedule, planned activities like sewing, basketmaking or gardening, and events organized by the patients or community groups were believed to help patients. By the 1930’s the hospital had a residency-training program in psychiatry.