Are Mental Disorders Brain Disorders?

The debate over whether mental disorders are disorders of the brain has been ongoing, with detractors arguing that labeling them as such can be harmful. This book provides a philosophical perspective on the issue, arguing that the characteristics of brain disorders are not well-defined and that what counts as dysfunctional at the brain level depends on what counts as dysfunctional at the psychological level. It also explores the practical implications of this understanding, such as how to deal with the fact that people often draw unlicensed inferences about treatment, personal responsibility, and etiology from the information that a condition is a brain disorder or involves brain dysfunction.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 100 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The question of whether mental disorders are disorders of the brain has sparked a longstanding and contentious debate within psychiatry, psychology, and the philosophy of mind and psychology. While recent advancements in neuroscience aim to uncover underlying brain dysfunction in mental disorders, detractors argue that labeling mental disorders as brain disorders is reductive and can have detrimental social consequences. This book provides a valuable philosophical perspective on this crucial issue.

Anneli Jefferson contends that while there is widespread consensus on paradigmatic cases of brain disorder, such as brain cancer, Parkinson's disease, or Alzheimer's dementia, there is less clarity on what the general defining characteristics of brain disorders are. She identifies influential notions of brain disorder and demonstrates why these notions are problematic.

On her own account, what counts as dysfunctional at the level of the brain often depends on what counts as dysfunctional at the psychological level. According to Jefferson, this notion of brain disorder leads to many of the consequences that people often associate with the brain disorder label. She also explores the important practical question of how to address the fact that many individuals make unlicensed inferences about treatment, personal responsibility, or etiology from the information that a condition is a brain disorder or involves brain dysfunction.

In conclusion, this book offers a thought-provoking exploration of the question of whether mental disorders are disorders of the brain. By challenging prevailing notions and offering an alternative account, Jefferson provides a valuable contribution to the ongoing debate within psychiatry, psychology, and philosophy of mind and psychology. Her work sheds light on the complexities of defining and understanding brain disorders and highlights the importance of considering the broader social and ethical implications of such labels.

Weight: 146g
Dimension: 215 x 138 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032306322