The Construction of Power and Authority in Psychiatry

Psychiatric services are facing a crisis in the post-modern world. The organisational failure of community care has been accompanied by a growing confidence in user-led initiatives and a growth in alternatives to the paternalism of psychiatric medicine. Construction of Power and Authority in Psychiatry explores some of the key philosophies and practical issues that will concern all mental health professionals as they move forward into the new millennium.



Featuring contributions by leading international authorities from psychiatric medicine, clinical psychology, psychiatric nursing, psychotherapy and social work, this exciting new book offers a careful critique of some of the philosophical and moral benchmarks for contemporary practice. It also provides an appreciation of the wide bandwidth of views representing the differing voices of 'authority' within mental health.



· Takes the debate on personal liberty and compassionate psychiatry into a new realm of professional reflection



· Explores issues such as: race and culture in psychiatric practice; hearing the voice of the psychiatric user; the virtue of psychiatric diagnosis; human values in a technocratic culture; alternative approaches to caring and relating to madness



· Discusses the implications of both 'caring for' and 'controlling' patients - as well as which type of approach is appropriate and/or realistic given financial and practical constraints



· Examines the influence of ethical and legal issues on the delivery of psychiatric care



The Construction of Power and Authority in Psychiatry will be of major interest to all students and lecturers in the social sciences, especially in the fields of psychiatric medicine, nursing, social work and psychology.