Madness Explained: Psychosis and Human Nature - Hardcover

Bentall, Richard P

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0713992492 ISBN 13: 9780713992496

Publisher: Allen Lane, 2003

Synopsis

Today most of us accept the consensus that madness is a medical condition: an illness, which can be identified, classified and treated with drugs like any other.

In this ground breaking and controversial work Richard Bentall shatters the myths that surround madness. He shows there is no reassuring dividing line between mental health and mental illness. Severe mental disorders can no longer be reduced to brain chemistry, but must be understood psychologically, as part of normal behaviour andhuman nature.

Bentall argues that we need a radically new way of thinking about psychosis and its treatment. Could it be that it is a fear of madness, rather than the madness itself, that is our problem?

About this title

Review:

'Madness Explained is a substantial, yet highly accessible work. Full of insight and humanity, it deserves a wide readership.' -- The Sunday Times

'Will give readers a glimpse both of answers to their own problems, and to questions about how the mind works' -- The Independent Magazine

Synopsis:

Today most of us accept the consensus that madness is a medical condition - an illness that can be identified, classified and treated with drugs like any other. In this work, Richard Bentall shatters the myths that surround madness. He shows that there is no reassuring dividing line between mental health and mental illness. Severe mental disorders can no longer be reduced to brain chemistry, but must be understood psychologically, as part of normal behaviour and human nature. Bentall argues that we need a radically new way of thinking about psychosis and its treatment. Could it be that it is fear of madness, rather than the madness itself, that is our problem?

About this edition

• Publisher: Allen Lane
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0713992492
• ISBN 13: 9780713992496
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 656