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The Psychiatric Team and the Social Definition of Schizophrenia

An Anthropological Study of Person and Illness

Robert J Barrett author

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Cambridge University Press

Published:2nd Nov '06

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

The Psychiatric Team and the Social Definition of Schizophrenia cover

A study of schizophrenia arising from an anthropological investigation in a modern psychiatric hospital.

A study of schizophrenia in a modern psychiatric hospital, arising from an anthropological investigation of the work of clinical staff. This book will reveal to mental health professionals many of the unspoken assumptions of their role and confirms the power of ethnographic research in psychiatry.This book is a study of schizophrenia in a modern psychiatric hospital. Its purpose is to develop a contextual understanding of schizophrenia by studying the clinical setting in which this disorder is experienced, diagnosed and treated. It arises from an anthropological investigation of the day-to-day work of clinical staff. The author offers a penetrating analysis of the language used by hospital staff as they write and talk about their patients and traces the evolution of the concept of schizophrenia, showing how contemporary theoretical constructs are applied by clinical staff. In its analysis of the schizophrenia team and of those experiencing the disorder, this book will reveal to mental health professionals many of the unspoken assumptions of their role. It will also confirm to social scientists and clinicians the power of the ethnographic approach in psychiatric research.

'… a solid contribution to our understanding of the life of psychiatric institutions as one ground of cultural psychologies and 'personologies' … Like any productive utterance, it not only moves the conversation along, but shows where further work is needed.' William S. Lachicotte, Folk
'I recommend the book highly to clinicians and researchers … Clinicians in training, including psychiatric registrars, would, I believe, derive great benefit and be pleasurably educated.' Helen Herrman, Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry

ISBN: 9780521031462

Dimensions: 228mm x 151mm x 20mm

Weight: 544g

360 pages