Users and Abusers of Psychiatry: A Critical Look at Psychiatric Practice

by Johnstone; Lucy

• ISBN13: 9780415211567
• ISBN10: 0415211565
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2000-08-11
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Users and Abusers of Psychiatryis a radically different, critical account of the day-to-day practice of psychiatry. Using real-life examples and her own experience as a clinical psychologist, Lucy Johnstone argues that the traditional way of treating mental illness can often exacerbate people's original difficulties leaving them powerless, disabled and distressed. In this completely revised and updated second edition, she draws on a range of evidence to present a very different understanding of psychiatric breakdown than that found in standard medical textbooks. Users and Abusers of Psychiatryis a challenging but ultimately inspiring read for all who are involved in mental health - whether as professionals, students, service users, relatives or interested lay people.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Acknowledgements	xvii
Glossary	xix
The story of a depressed housewife	1	(16)
The Rescue Game	17	(23)
The sick role	40	(25)
The treatment barrier	65	(35)
Women's and men's role problems and psychiatry	100	(30)
The professionals and their training	130	(15)
A brief history of psychiatry	145	(21)
Physical treatments and the role of the drug industry	166	(35)
Resistance in the system	201	(18)
Psychiatry and wider society	219	(38)
Pointers to the future	257	(10)
Notes	267	(26)
Index	293