Models of Madness: Psychological, Social and Biological Approaches to Psychosis

International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis

by John Read (Editor), Dr John Read (Editor), Professor Richard Bentall (Editor)

Are hallucinations and delusions really symptoms of an illness called ‘schizophrenia’? Are mental health problems really caused by chemical imbalances and genetic predispositions? Are psychiatric drugs as effective and safe as the drug companies claim? Is madness preventable? This second edition of Models of Madness challenges those who hold to simplistic, pessimistic and often damaging theories and treatments of madness. In particular it challenges beliefs that madness can be explained without reference to social causes and challenges the excessive preoccupation with chemical imbalances and genetic predispositions as causes of human misery, including the conditions that are given the name 'schizophrenia'. This edition updates the now extensive body of research showing that hallucinations, delusions etc. are best understood as reactions to adverse life events and that psychological and social approaches to helping are more effective and far safer than psychiatric drugs and electroshock treatment. A new final chapter discusses why such a damaging ideology has come to dominate mental health and, most importantly, how to change that. Models of Madness is divided into three This book brings together thirty-seven contributors from ten countries and a wide range of scientific disciplines. It provides an evidence-based, optimistic antidote to the pessimism of biological psychiatry. Models of Madness will be essential reading for all involved in mental health, including service users, family members, service managers, policy makers, nurses, clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, counsellors, psychoanalysts, social workers, occupational therapists, art therapists.

Genres: Psychology, Mental Health, Psychiatry, Nonfiction, Science

448 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Dboyda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Source - Amazon

Book edited by 3 renowned specialists in the field of psychological treatments for Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders: John Read, PhD - Clinical Psychologist, specialist in the subject of childhood trauma and psychosis (emerging and very relevant research subject) and editor of the Scientific Journal Psychosis Making Sense of Madness (International Society for the Psychological Treatments of the Schizophrenias and Other Psychoses); the late Loren Mosher, MD - Psychiatrist, specialist in residential alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization (cf. Soteria) Soteria: Through Madness to Deliverance, former chief of the NIMH's Center for the Studies of Schizophrenia and founder of the Scientific Journal Schizophrenia Bulletin; Richard Bentall, PhD - Clinical Psychologist, specialist in cognitive models of psychosis and author of "Madness Explained" Madness Explained: Psychosis and Human Nature and "Doctoring the Mind" Doctoring the Mind.

They bring together contributions from a wide range of skillful clinicians and researchers, encompassing a psychological approach to people suffering from psychotic disorders. The work presented is solid and grounded on scientific research, although it differs from the mainstream biological model of psychiatric disorders.

You will find 24 chapters divided in 3 parts:
I - The Illness Model of Schizophrenia
10 chapters challenging the current model of schizophrenia, questioning its bases, the history of this disease model, genetic studies, medication and biological methods of treatment.
II - Social and Psychological Approaches to Understanding Madness
7 chapters covering developmental issues (childhood trauma), psychotherapeutic treatments, family interaction and social context.
III - Evidence Based Psycho-Social Interventions
7 extremely relevant and important chapters, providing scientific evidence (research findings published in peer reviewed scientific journals) for psycho-social interventions.

The book gives an alternative view to the prevailing biological disease model of severe psychological disorders, offering complementary understanding for that conditions and showing the clinical relevance of psychological and social interventions. It is based on clinical evidence and scientific research, written in a clear and exciting way - the authors use a challenging attitude and sometimes a provocative style. That only increases the insight you can obtain from reading it.

Most recommended reading to both clinicians, researchers and students of mental health subjects. Essential for those who search for hope and a more humane model of assistance to those in severe distress.

[Faaiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took two courses in abnormal psychology and personality disorders in college and was immediately put off by the epistemic arbitrariness of the discipline and determined that a profession in the mental health care was definitely not for me. This book skillfully argues against the dominant paradigm in psychiatry that treats schizophrenia, an illness with dubious historical origins, etiology, internal validity, and reliability, as a disease of the brain of chemical imbalances and brain structure changes brought on mostly by genetic predisposition. The current dominant paradigm sidelines the psychological and social stressors that could result in schizophrenia-symptoms in favor of the biological to the detriment of the patients. The biomedical approach towards schizophrenia places the crux of the treatment on to antipsychotic medications which cause brain damage and unbearable side effects to those who use them. Big Pharma is complicit in and in many cases actively drives the uptake and upscale of this model among the mental health service providers and actively suppresses research on the harmful effects of antipsychotics.

It's astonishing how none of this is taught (at least) in undergraduate level courses. But then again, the university has become a bastion of the mainstream dominant perspectives and any alternatives and genuinely critical perspectives are shunned and suppressed. This is quite an eye opening and worldview shifting book that should be taught in college to anyone interested in or currently pursuing a profession in the mental health care.

[Adri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bastante útil. Investigación fundamentada, con mucha revisión bibliográfica.

Este libro ayuda a entender que otra forma de ver y abordar la locura no solo es urgente sino también veraz.

[Veronika]

I´m trying to translate it to czech language (it´s part of my exam...) and it was pretty hard at the begining but now I have 43 pages and it´s getting better and I can also say it´s very interesting book.. I didn´t like it but now it´s different, better :)

[Nina Sithakarn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Could relate the contents to my real life situation.