Downing Street Blues: A History of Depression and Other Mental Afflictions in British Prime Ministers - Softcover

Davidson M.D., Jonathan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0786448466 ISBN 13: 9780786448463

Publisher: McFarland & Co, 2010

Synopsis

Presenting an account of mental illness in British prime ministers from Sir Robert Walpole, generally regarded as the first to hold the position, to Tony Blair, this book reveals how depression, anxiety, dementia, and alcohol or drug use disorders have impacted British leaders over three centuries. It begins with an introduction explaining the principles of diagnosis, the methods used to assess subjects and the assignment of confidence levels in each diagnosis, and the overall significance of mental disorder in political leaders. Individual assessments then follow for each of Britain's 51 prime ministers, revealing how evidence for psychiatric problems was found in over 70% of cases and how the prevalence of mental disorders remained relatively constant throughout the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.

About this title

About the Author

Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center, Jonathan Davidson, M.D., is the author of several books and journal articles. He lives in Seabrook Island, South Carolina.

From the Inside Flap

Presenting an account of mental illness in British prime ministers from Sir Robert Walpole, generally regarded as the first to hold the position, to Tony Blair, this book reveals how depression, anxiety, dementia, and alcohol or drug use disorders have impacted British leaders over three centuries. It begins with an introduction explaining the principles of diagnosis, the methods used to assess subjects and the assignment of confidence levels in each diagnosis, and the overall significance of mental disorder in political leaders. Individual assessments then follow for each of Britain's 51 prime ministers, revealing how evidence for psychiatric problems was found in over 70% of cases and how the prevalence of mental disorders remained relatively constant throughout the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.

Edition details

• Publisher: McFarland & Co
• Publication date: 2010
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0786448466
• ISBN 13: 9780786448463
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 228