Psychiatry, Politics and PTSD: Breaking Down

This book provides a unique perspective on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by integrating critical and feminist psychology, psychiatry, and psychoanalysis. It examines the individual and social costs of being diagnosed with PTSD through interviews conducted in field settings and explores how social contexts and social movements shape diagnostic thinking about mental trauma. The author argues that the PTSD diagnosis emerged as a symptom of a crisis in psychiatry over demands to recognize the social and political origins of mental suffering. Chapters provide case examples from various settings, such as military and veterans affairs clinics, war zones, and refugee camps, and offer a new way of thinking about PTSD that challenges both critics and defenders of the diagnosis.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 186 pages
Publication date: 20 July 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive text delves into the multifaceted realm of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by integrating critical and feminist psychology, psychiatry, and psychoanalysis. Through in-depth interviews conducted in various field settings, the author uncovers the profound individual and societal consequences of being diagnosed with PTSD. The book explores how social contexts and social movements influence diagnostic perspectives on mental trauma, leading to the emergence of PTSD as a symptom of a crisis in psychiatry. Chapters present case examples from diverse settings, including military and veterans affairs clinics, war zones, refugee camps, psychosomatic medicine, criminal justice systems, and more. By offering a fresh perspective on PTSD and providing an alternative to both critics and defenders of the diagnosis, this text serves as a valuable resource for scholars and practitioners in psychiatry, psychology, psychoanalysis, public health policy, sociology, social work, gender studies, and the law.

Introduction:
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a complex clinical and social phenomenon that has garnered significant attention in recent years. The impact of trauma on individuals and communities cannot be overstated, and the diagnosis of PTSD has become a focal point in the field of mental health. However, the understanding of PTSD remains limited, and there is a need for a comprehensive approach that incorporates critical and feminist perspectives.

Critical and Feminist Psychology:
Critical psychology is a branch of psychology that emphasizes the power dynamics and social inequalities that shape individuals' experiences and behaviors. Feminist psychology, on the other hand, focuses on the intersection of gender, race, and class with psychological experiences and seeks to promote gender equality and social justice. Integrating these perspectives into the study of PTSD offers a unique understanding of the phenomenon.

Psychiatry and Psychoanalysis:
Psychiatry and psychoanalysis are two disciplines that have played a significant role in the understanding and treatment of PTSD. Psychiatry focuses on the medical diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, while psychoanalysis is a therapeutic approach that explores the unconscious mind and its relationship to psychological distress. Combining these approaches provides a comprehensive framework for understanding and treating PTSD.

Individual and Social Costs of PTSD:
The book explores the true individual and social costs of being diagnosed with PTSD. It highlights the experiences of individuals who have undergone trauma and the challenges they face in their daily lives. It also examines the societal implications of PTSD, such as the impact on public health, the criminal justice system, and social relationships.

Social Contexts and Social Movements:
The author examines how social contexts and social movements shape diagnostic thinking about mental trauma. She argues that the PTSD diagnosis emerged as a response to demands to recognize the social and political origins of mental suffering. The book explores how social contexts, such as war zones.

Case Examples:
Chapters present case examples from a range of settings, such as military and veterans affairs clinics, war zones, refugee camps, psychosomatic medicine, criminal justice systems, and more. These case examples provide a rich understanding of the diverse experiences of individuals diagnosed with PTSD and the challenges they face in their daily lives.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, this comprehensive text offers a distinct perspective on PTSD as a clinical and social phenomenon. By integrating critical and feminist psychology, psychiatry, and psychoanalysis, the author provides a new way of thinking about PTSD and an alternative to both critics and defenders of the diagnosis. The book is a valuable resource for scholars and practitioners in psychiatry, psychology, psychoanalysis, public health policy, sociology, social work, gender studies, and the law. It sheds light on the individual and societal costs of PTSD and highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that recognizes the social and political origins of mental suffering.

Weight: 292g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367819378