1st Edition

Psychiatry and Religion Context, Consensus and Controversies

Edited By Dinesh Bhugra Copyright 1996

    The argument of this book is that the divide between psychiatry and religion is an artificial one and that there is much room for understanding the same phenomena from different perspectives. In it thirteen senior mental health professionals and pastoral workers come together to explore what their different philosophies have to offer each other for the benefit of the individuals in their care. The book as a whole:
    * sets the relationship between psychiatry and religion in historical context
    * provides detailed information about specific religions and the significance of their belief systems for mental health management
    * examines the relationship between psychopathology, psychiatry and religion.

    Dr Eileen Barker, London School of Economics; Dr Dinesh Bhugra, Institute of Psychiatry; Rabbi Howard Cooper; Professor John Cox, University of Keele; Padma de Silva,Institute of Psychiatry; Dr Aziz Esmail, Institute of Ismaili Studies; Dr Peter Fenwick, The Maudsley Hospital, Oxford; Professor Ezra Griffith, Yale University School of Medicine; Dr Maurice Lipsedge, Guy's Hospital; Dr Roland Littlewood, University College, London; Cannon Mark Sutherland, The Maudsley Hospital

    Biography

    Dinesh Bhugra

    'Will be of interest to psychiatrists, other doctors, and anyone who works in a religious capacity ... can be recommended to all those wishing to learn more about religion and its relationship to psychiatric practice.' - The British Medical Journal

    'This useful and timely collection ... will be particularly helpful in understanding the role of culture in mental illness, and a useful source of reference for practitioners who encounter patients from different ethnic backgrounds.' - The Lancet

    'A significant and welcome contribution' - Church Times

    'An enjoyable read' - Theology

    'There are many, many books on this theme and they are enormously variable in style and integrity. The book Dr Bhugra has edited takes a wider, more socio-cultural and descriptive perspective, and is an excellent introduction to the field.' - Journal of Interprofessional Care