Ethnopsychiatry

The relationship between culture and mental health is explored in Ethnopsychiatry, which was written by Henri Ellenberger in the late 1960s and introduced by Emmanuel Delille. The book addresses cultural specificity in mental illness, collective psychoses, differentiations within cultural groups, and biocultural interactions. It draws from a vast and varied primary and secondary literature and from Ellenberger's own findings in clinical practice. The book provides a compelling introduction to the foundations of transcultural psychiatry and one of its most distinguished and prolific researchers.

Format: Hardback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 17 December 2020
Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press

The relationship between culture and mental health is a complex and multifaceted issue that has been the subject of much research and discussion over the years. In the late 1960s, the psychiatrist Henri Ellenberger wrote a series of articles that explored the role of culture in mental health, which were later published as The Discovery of the Unconscious: The History and Evolution of Dynamic Psychiatry in 1970. Fifty years later, these articles are being presented in English translation for the first time, introduced by historian of science Emmanuel Delille.

Ethnopsychiatry is a field of research that explores the role of culture in mental health, and it is one of the most controversial subjects in psychiatric research. Ellenberger's articles addressed a range of complex clinical and theoretical problems related to cultural specificity in mental illness, collective psychoses, differentiations within cultural groups, and biocultural interactions. He was particularly interested in the correlations between rapid cultural transformations in postwar society, urbanization, and the frequency of mental illness.

Ellenberger drew from a vast and varied primary and secondary literature in several languages, as well as from his own findings in clinical practice, which included work with indigenous peoples. In analyzing Ellenberger's contributions, Delille unveils the transnational and interdisciplinary origins of transcultural psychiatry, which grew out of knowledge networks that crisscrossed the globe.

The book has a rich selection of appendices, including Ellenberger's lecture notes on a case of peyote addiction and his correspondence with anthropologist and psychoanalyst Georges Devereux. These original essays, and their masterful contextualization, provide a compelling introduction to the foundations of transcultural psychiatry and one of its most distinguishe.

One of the key themes that Ellenberger explored in his articles was the idea of cultural relativism, which suggests that the symptoms and expressions of mental illness can vary greatly across different cultural groups. He argued that cultural differences in beliefs, values, and practices can have a significant impact on how individuals perceive and experience mental illness. For example, some cultures may view mental illness as a spiritual or supernatural phenomenon, while others may see it as a medical condition that requires treatment.

Ellenberger also discussed the concept of collective psychoses, which are disorders that affect large groups of people and are often associated with cultural uphe disorder. He argued that collective psychoses can arise when a group of people share a common set of beliefs or experiences that lead them to engage in harmful or destructive behavior. For example, during the **** regime in Germany, many people were subjected to collective psychoses that led them to participate in the Holocaust.

Another important aspect of Ellenberger's work was his exploration of differentiations within cultural groups. He argued that mental illness can manifest differently in different cultural groups, depending on factors such as social status, gender, and ethnicity. For example, women may be more likely to experience depression and anxiety than men, and certain ethnic groups may be more prone to certain mental disorders such as schizophrenia.

Ellenberger also discussed the biocultural interactions between culture and mental health. He argued that the relationship between culture and mental health is not a simple one-way street, but rather a complex and dynamic interplay between the two. He noted that cultural practices and beliefs can have a direct impact on physical health, as well as mental health. For example, certain dietary practices and beliefs can contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, which can in turn have a negative impact on mental health.

In conclusion, the relationship between culture and mental health is a complex and multifaceted issue that has been the subject of much research and discussion over the years. Ethnopsychiatry is a field of research that explores the role of culture in mental health, and it is one of the most controversial subjects in psychiatric research. Ellenberger's articles provide a valuable insight into the complex clinical and theoretical problems of cultural specificity in mental illness, collective psychoses, differentiations within cultural groups, and biocultural interactions. His work highlights the transnational and interdisciplinary origins of transcultural psychiatry, which grew out of knowledge networks that crisscrossed the globe. The book has a rich selection of appendices that provide a compelling introduction to the foundations of transcultural psychiatry and one of its most distinguishe.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780228003847