Making Sense of Madness: Contesting the Meaning of Schizophrenia

by Geekie; Jim

• ISBN13: 9780415461955
• ISBN10: 0415461952
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-06-18
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

The experience of madness which might also be referred to more formally as 'schizophrenia' or 'psychosis' consists of a complex, confusing and often distressing collection of experiences, such as hearing voices or developing unusual, seemingly unfounded beliefs. Madness, in its various forms and guises, seems to be a ubiquitous feature of being human, yet our ability to make sense of madness, and our knowledge of how to help those who are so troubled, is limited. Making Sense of Madnessexplores the subjective experiences of madness. Using clients' stories and verbatim descriptions, it argues that the experience of 'madness' is an integral part of what it is to be human, and that greater focus on subjective experiences can contribute to professional understandings and ways of helping those who might be troubled by these experiences. Areas of discussion include: how people who experience psychosis make sense of it themselves scientific/professional understandings of 'madness' what the public thinks about 'schizophrenia' Making Sense of Madnesswill be essential reading for all mental health professionals as well as being of great interest to people who experience psychosis and their families and friends.

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Subjective Experience of Madness

Making Sense of Madness I: Subjective Experience

Making Sense of Madness II: Lay Understandings

What Does the Public Think About 'Schizophrenia'?

Making Sense of Madness III: Scientific/Professional Understandings of 'Madness'

Bringing It All Together

What 'Schizophrenia' Really Is

Where to From Here?

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