''Rethinking Madness: Towards a Paradigm Shift In Our Understanding and Treatment of Psychosis'' (Sky's Edge Publishing, 2012) is a book by the
psychologist
A psychologist is a professional who practices psychology and studies mental states, perceptual, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior. Their work often involves the experimentation, observation, and interpretation of how ...
Paris Williams which explores creative ways of dealing with madness (
psychosis
Psychosis is a condition of the mind that results in difficulties determining what is real and what is not real. Symptoms may include delusions and hallucinations, among other features. Additional symptoms are incoherent speech and behavior ...
). Williams says that psychotic experiences, which cause significant distress, typically occur deep within the mind. Given suitable conditions, this process can often result in a positive outcome, but Williams avoids the romantic notion that psychosis is always beneficial. Much of what Williams says is in close accord with a
recovery approach.
Williams says that the term "psychosis" has many meanings, and the definitions that have been put forward are controversial. Even the
DSM-IV-TR
The ''Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders'' (DSM; latest edition: DSM-5-TR, published in March 2022) is a publication by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) for the classification of mental disorders using a common langua ...
, says that "the term psychosis has historically received a number of definitions, none of which has achieved universal acceptance".
[Paris Williams (2012). ''Rethinking Madness: Towards a Paradigm Shift In Our Understanding and Treatment of Psychosis'', Sky’s Edge Publishing, p. 17.]
Williams says that the diagnosis of
schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by continuous or relapsing episodes of psychosis. Major symptoms include hallucinations (typically hearing voices), delusions, and disorganized thinking. Other symptoms include social wi ...
is also the subject of much debate:
Despite over a century of intensive research, no biological markers or physiological tests that can be used to diagnose schizophrenia have been found, its etiology continues to be uncertain, and we don’t even have clear evidence that the concept of schizophrenia is a valid construct. However, diagnosis and treatment based upon the diagnosis continues unhindered by these serious problems.[
]
See also
*
Elyn Saks
Elyn R. Saks is associate dean and Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California Gould Law School, an expert in mental health law, and a MacArthur Foundation Fel ...
*
David Oaks
*
Stuart A. Kirk Stuart A. Kirk holds the Marjorie Crump Chair in Social Welfare at UCLA and is a former psychiatric social worker. His research interests include mental health issues, particularly the creation and use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Men ...
*
Robert Whitaker
*
Peter Breggin
Peter Roger Breggin (born May 11, 1936) is an American psychiatrist and critic of shock treatment and psychiatric medication and Covid-19 response. In his books, he advocates replacing psychiatry's use of drugs and electroconvulsive therapy with ...
*
Peter Lehmann Peter Lehmann may refer to:
* Peter Lehmann (winemaker) (1930–2013), Australian winemaker
*Peter Lehmann (author) (born 1950), German author
*Peter Lehmann (ice hockey)
Peter Lehmann (born January 28, 1946) is a retired Swiss professional ice ...
*
Thomas Szasz
Thomas Stephen Szasz ( ; hu, Szász Tamás István ; 15 April 1920 – 8 September 2012) was a Hungarian-American academic and psychiatrist. He served for most of his career as professor of psychiatry at the State University of New York Upstate ...
* ''
Anatomy of an Epidemic''
References
External links
Official website
Medical books
2012 non-fiction books
Books about schizophrenia
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