Richard Bentall Books

Part of a Growing International Movement to Change the Face of Mental Illness.Is madness purely a medical condition that can be treated with drugs? Is there really a clear dividing line between mental health and mental illness - or is it not so easy to classify who is sane and who is insane?In Madness Explained leading clinical psychologist Richard Bentall shatters the modern myths that surround psychosis. This groundbreaking work argues that we cannot define madness as an illness to be cured like any other; that labels such as 'schizophrenia' and 'manic depression' are meaningless, based on nineteenth-century classifications; and that experiences such as delusions and hearing voices are in fact exaggerations of the mental foibles to which we are all vulnerable.We need, Bentall argues, a radically new way of thinking about psychiatric problems - one that does not reduce madness to bain chemistry, but understands and accepts it as part of human nature.'Bentall destroys many of the foundations underlying psychiatric thinking' - Oliver James'A monumental study ... brave, well-researched and accessible' - Scotland on Sunday'Bental demystifies psychosis and restores the patient to a proper place with the rest of humankind' - Aaron T. Beck

Do you still need your psychiatric diagnosis? This book will help you decide. A revolution is underway in mental health, as even the authors of diagnostic manuals acknowledge that psychiatric diagnoses lack solid evidence. Consequently, individuals should not be compelled to accept these labels. With many mental health professionals questioning the validity of diagnoses and advocating for a better system, service users and caregivers deserve the same opportunity. This book emphasizes choice, providing essential information for individuals to make informed decisions and explore alternatives if they wish. Rigorously researched and powerfully argued, the book empowers readers with knowledge and resources often absent in statutory care, enabling informed choices. Eleanor Longden from the Psychosis Research Group at the University of Liverpool highlights its value. Lucy Johnstone emphasizes that understanding personal experiences fosters hope and recovery, as she deconstructs psychiatric diagnosis and incorporates personal stories as evidence. Dirk Corstens, a psychiatrist and Chair of Intervoice, praises the book’s message. Gail A. Hornstein, a psychology professor at Mount Holyoke College, describes it as a balanced and clear introduction to the realities of psychiatric diagnosis and the viable alternatives available for those in distress.