On the notion of mental illness : Problematizing the medical-model conception of certain abnormal behaviour and mental afflictions

• This study inquires into some polemics concerning the notion of mentalillness or disease. Some central arguments in the debate on psychiatry, of the 1960's and early 70's, are focused on.The analysis is performed in two steps. Important theoretical dimensionsof the early debate are analyzed in the context of a discussion of thepolemics surrounding Thomas Szasz's criticism of psychiatry. Then anattempt is made to take the analysis further by taking into account recentdevelopments in the philosophy of medicine. The theoretical line of criticism of the mental-illness notion is tested against two elaborate andarticulate medical models, with regard to their application to abnormal behaviour and mental afflictions.The conclusion is that the medical-model conception of so-called mental-illness phenomena appears problematic from theoretical points of view.In a final chapter some ideological dimensions of the debate on the notion of mental illness are touched upon.

Subject headings

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Annan samhällsvetenskap -- Tvärvetenskapliga studier inom samhällsvetenskap (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Other Social Sciences -- Social Sciences Interdisciplinary (hsv//eng)

Keyword

anti-psychiatry

concept of mental illness

medical model of mental illness

theory of psychiatry

INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AREAS

TVÄRVETENSKAPLIGA FORSKNINGSOMRÅDEN

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

dok (subject category)