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  • © 2014

A Prescription for Psychiatry

Why We Need a Whole New Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing

Palgrave Macmillan

Authors:

  • This book proposes radical and fundamental changes to the organization and delivery of mental health interventions from diagnosis and treatment to policy and provision
  • Written by one of the UK's leading authorities on mental health services
  • Directly responds to DSM-5's diagnostic criteria and the UK government's health system reforms

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Table of contents (10 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-vi
  2. Understand, Don’t Diagnose

    • Peter Kinderman
    Pages 48-82
  3. Promote Health and Well-being

    • Peter Kinderman
    Pages 102-125
  4. Residential Care … Not Medical Coercion

    • Peter Kinderman
    Pages 126-143
  5. Teamworking

    • Peter Kinderman
    Pages 144-155
  6. Can We Afford It?

    • Peter Kinderman
    Pages 175-185
  7. Back Matter

    Pages 193-212

About this book

This is a manifesto for an entirely new approach to psychiatric care; one that truly offers care rather than coercion, therapy rather than medication, and a return to the common sense appreciation that distress is usually an understandable reaction to life's challenges.

Reviews

'Peter Kinderman puts his finger on much that is wrong with modern-day psychiatry, with its obsession with empty diagnostic labels, indiscriminate and uncomprehending use of toxic drugs for years on end, and its blindness to the social context of suffering and distress. Kinderman sketches a welcome vision of an alternative approach grounded in a society that fosters well-being through political means, with services oriented to helping people address their unique individual problems. It is a challenging but realistic vision for change, and should open a much-needed debate.' - Joanna Moncrieff, University College London, UK

'In this book Peter Kinderman argues that mental health services are too reactive and medicalised and he outlines a manifesto for a psychosocial approach, putting much more emphasis on wellbeing and public health, with services based within local authorities rather than the health system. This is a much-needed intervention in current debates about mental health policy and should be read by anyone interested in rethinking how we respond to serious psychological distress.' - David Harper, University of East London, UK

'Professor Kinderman has spent his career working in our mental health services and has reached the conclusion that in their current form they often do more harm than good. His 'prescription for psychiatry' is either visionary or scandalous, depending on your point of view, but never boring. A must-read for everyone with aninterest in mental health.' - Anne Cooke, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Liverpool, UK

    Peter Kinderman

About the author

Peter Kinderman is Professor of Clinical Psychology at the University of Liverpool, UK. His research activity and clinical work concentrate on understanding and helping people with serious and enduring mental health problems, and on how psychological science can assist public policy in health and social care.

Bibliographic Information

  • Book Title: A Prescription for Psychiatry

  • Book Subtitle: Why We Need a Whole New Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing

  • Authors: Peter Kinderman

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137408716

  • Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan London

  • eBook Packages: Palgrave Social Sciences Collection, Social Sciences (R0)

  • Copyright Information: Palgrave Macmillan, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited 2014

  • Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-40869-3Published: 03 September 2014

  • Softcover ISBN: 978-1-137-40870-9Published: 03 September 2014

  • eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-40871-6Published: 03 September 2014

  • Edition Number: 1

  • Number of Pages: VI, 212

  • Topics: Clinical Psychology, Psychiatry, Psychotherapy

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 37.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access