Chlorpromazine was introduced to North American clinical practice in 1953 by Heinz Lehmann, a pivotal shift that triggered a revolution in the treatment of schizophrenia. His transition from Berlin, where he was born in 1911, to a Canadian psychiatric career established him as a cornerstone figure in the development of modern psychopharmacological intervention throughout the latter half of the twentieth century.
Early Education and Migration
Before arriving in Canada in 1937, Lehmann completed his formal education at the universities of Freiburg, Marburg, Vienna, and Berlin. Upon settling in Montreal, he began his clinical work at the Montreal Children's Hospital to refine his command of English. By the start of the Second World War, he secured an appointment as a junior psychiatrist at the Verdun Protestant Hospital, later renamed the Douglas Mental Health University Institute. He lived on-site, marrying a nurse named Annette, with whom he had a son, François, in 1944.
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Lehmann served as clinical director of Douglas Hospital starting in 1947. He became a prominent advocate for the use of new medications, including chlorpromazine in 1953 and imipramine in 1958. His clinical focus extended to investigating psilocybin as a potential treatment for anxiety. Between 1971 and 1975, he chaired the Department of Psychiatry at McGill University, where he had previously served as a lecturer on conditions such as depression, paranoia, and obsessions.
Research Networks and Policy
In 1961, Lehmann initiated one of the first Canadian units for the US Public Health Service’s Early Clinical Drug Evaluation Unit. Alongside co-principal investigator Thomas A. Ban, he led an 18-year collaboration examining various psychotropic drugs. His public service included a tenure as a member of the Le Dain Commission from 1969 to 1972, where he supported the decriminalization of marijuana. Additionally, he served on the American Psychiatric Association’s Nomenclature Committee in 1973, participating in the decision to remove homosexuality from the diagnostic manual.
Professional Recognition
Lehmann’s impact on psychiatry earned him numerous accolades. He was honored with the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award in 1957 and the Stratton Award in 1962. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1976 and received the Thomas William Salmon Medal in 1994. He was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame in 1998, one year before his death in Montreal at age 88.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Berlin
- Died: 1999, Montreal
- Primary Field: Psychiatry
- Key Medication: Chlorpromazine
- Academic Institution: McGill University
- Notable Award: Officer of the Order of Canada
- Commission Membership: Le Dain Commission
Questions readers ask
What was Lehmann's role in drug regulation?
He helped introduce and promote chlorpromazine and imipramine in North America and participated in the Le Dain Commission regarding drug policy.
Did Lehmann receive formal recognition for his research?
Yes, he was inducted into the Canadian Medical Hall of Fame and received the Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award.
Achievements
- Officer of the Order of Canada
- Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award — 1957
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada
- Thomas William Salmon Medal — 1994
- Held posts at McGill University
- Fields: psychiatrist, psychiatry and psychopharmacological medication
