S Priebe1. 1. Unit for Social & Community Psychiatry (WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Service Development, Queen Mary University of London).
Abstract
AIMS: Psychiatry as science is underpinned by paradigms. Considering whether a social paradigm may help to advance the current state of psychiatry, the review provides a reference to the rich, but fragmented past of related initiatives in the history of psychiatry and a personal view of themes, challenges and perspectives of using a social paradigm in psychiatry. METHODS: Major themes are the evidence on social determinants of mental health; the value-based importance of integrating people with mental disorders in society; options to overcome the social isolation and improve the networks of psychiatric patients; utilising a systemic approach for interventions in families and communities; and understanding group and one-to-one treatments in psychiatry primarily as social interactions. Whilst all these themes open up perspectives for future action and/or research, there are also conceptual challenges through the limitations of the current construct of mental disorders and the dominating terminology. RESULTS: Initiatives for using a social paradigm in psychiatry may refer to important achievements in the past, but need to go beyond this and consider on-going societal changes. CONCLUSION: Innovation may benefit from close collaboration with social sciences and humanities.
AIMS: Psychiatry as science is underpinned by paradigms. Considering whether a social paradigm may help to advance the current state of psychiatry, the review provides a reference to the rich, but fragmented past of related initiatives in the history of psychiatry and a personal view of themes, challenges and perspectives of using a social paradigm in psychiatry. METHODS: Major themes are the evidence on social determinants of mental health; the value-based importance of integrating people with mental disorders in society; options to overcome the social isolation and improve the networks of psychiatricpatients; utilising a systemic approach for interventions in families and communities; and understanding group and one-to-one treatments in psychiatry primarily as social interactions. Whilst all these themes open up perspectives for future action and/or research, there are also conceptual challenges through the limitations of the current construct of mental disorders and the dominating terminology. RESULTS: Initiatives for using a social paradigm in psychiatry may refer to important achievements in the past, but need to go beyond this and consider on-going societal changes. CONCLUSION: Innovation may benefit from close collaboration with social sciences and humanities.
Entities:
Keywords:
interactions; mental health care; social constructs; social determinants; social networks; social paradigm; social psychiatry
Authors: Tom Burns; Jocelyn Catty; Thomas Becker; Robert E Drake; Angelo Fioritti; Martin Knapp; Christoph Lauber; Wulf Rössler; Toma Tomov; Jooske van Busschbach; Sarah White; Durk Wiersma Journal: Lancet Date: 2007-09-29 Impact factor: 79.321