ABSTRACT
Colonial thinking runs deep in psychiatry. Recent anti-racist statements from the APA and RCPsych are to be welcomed. However, we argue that if it is to really tackle deep-seated racism and decolonise its curriculum, the discipline will need to critically interrogate the origins of some of its fundamental assumptions, values and priorities. This will not be an easy task. By its very nature, the quest to decolonise is fraught with contradictions and difficulties. However, we make the case that this moment presents an opportunity for psychiatry to engage positively with other forms of critical reflection on structures of power/knowledge in the field of mental health. We propose a number of paths along which progress might be made.
Subject(s)
Psychiatry , Racism , Anthropology, Medical , Curriculum , Humans , Mental HealthABSTRACT
Critical psychiatry is associated with anti-psychiatry and may therefore seem to be an embarrassing hangover from the 1970s. However, its essential position that functional mental illness should not be reduced to brain disease overlaps with historical debates in psychiatry more than is commonly appreciated. Three examples of non-reductive approaches, like critical psychiatry, in the history of psychiatry are considered.
ABSTRACT
The Critical Psychiatry Network (CPN) was formed in 1999. This editorial attempts to define critical psychiatry and notes some key contributions from members of the CPN. The implications of critical psychiatry and some differences within the critical psychiatry movement are discussed.Declaration of interestD.B.D is founding member of the Critical Psychiatry Network.
Subject(s)
Philosophy , Psychiatry/history , History, 21st Century , HumansABSTRACT
A series of editorials in this Journal have argued that psychiatry is in the midst of a crisis. The various solutions proposed would all involve a strengthening of psychiatry's identity as essentially 'applied neuroscience'. Although not discounting the importance of the brain sciences and psychopharmacology, we argue that psychiatry needs to move beyond the dominance of the current, technological paradigm. This would be more in keeping with the evidence about how positive outcomes are achieved and could also serve to foster more meaningful collaboration with the growing service user movement.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/therapy , Psychiatry/standards , Biomedical Technology/standards , Biomedical Technology/trends , Cognitive Behavioral Therapy , Electroconvulsive Therapy , Evidence-Based Practice/standards , Evidence-Based Practice/trends , Humans , Knowledge , Mental Disorders/etiology , Mental Health , Professional Practice/standards , Professional Practice/trends , Psychiatry/trends , Recovery of FunctionSubject(s)
Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Depression/drug therapy , Evidence-Based Medicine/methods , Quality of Health Care , Conflict of Interest , Drug Industry/economics , Evidence-Based Medicine/economics , Financial Support/ethics , Humans , Patient Compliance , Placebo Effect , Publication Bias , Statistics as Topic/methods , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The author presents in this arthicle that psychiatry should temper and complement a biological view with psychological and social understanding, thus recognising the uncertainties of clinical practice.(Sign-in/subscription is necessary for full-text)BMJ 2002;324:900-904 ( 13 April )
