Do defective genes give rise to defective thought? The revolution in molecular genetics has indeed given rise to the increasing optimism that advancements in biotechnology will soon uncover the causes of all disturbances of mind and behavior. In this book, leading psychiatrist Julian Leff counters this reductionist claim and emphasizes what is known about the psychological, social, and cultural factors underlying mental illness. In doing so, he addresses many serious and urgent questions. What exactly is the difference between sadness and depression? What are the difficulties in categorizing psychiatric conditions? How are psychiatric diagnoses made in the first place? Are international attempts to standardize diagnosis flawed? Can doctors ever hope to disentangle cause and effect in the treatment of mental illness? What is the influence of emotional relationships on psychiatric conditions? How do public attitudes to mental illness affect choices of treatment? And, finally, what does all this tell us about the cultural causes of mental illness? Throughout the book Leff also takes stock of the origins and effects of many medications used to treat mental illnesses, from antidepressants such as Prozac to Thorazine, a drug used to treat patients with delusions and hallucinations. Showing how broad social and community forces play into human development, he highlights the importance of life events and external forces in the origin and treatment of depression and schizophrenia. Leff acknowledges the biological basis of mental activity, but underscores the vital role of the social environment. The Unbalanced Mind addresses such questions as: * Why was there a lower rate of diagnosis of schizophrenia in Great Britain than in the United States? * Why do people with schizophrenia in developing countries have a better rate of recovery? * How did the USSR use the diagnosis of schizophrenia for political ends? Full of engaging examples, The Unbalanced Mind provides a clear picture of how mental illnesses are diagnosed and treated―and what is at the root of the cause. As Leff explains, "My vision for the future of psychiatry is one that depends not on technical advances in making images of the brain or replacing bad genes with good ones, but on increasing our understanding of relationships between people."

The Unbalanced Mind (Maps of the Mind Series)

Leff, Julian

Science & Math

Columbia University Press

People with serious mental illness no longer spend years of their lives in psychiatric institutions. In developed countries, there has been a major shift in the focus of care from hospitals into the community. However, while it means those with mental illness are not confined, it does not guarantee they will be fully integrated into their communities. The barriers to full citizenship are partly due to the disabilities produced by their illnesses and partly by stigmatizing and discriminatory attitudes of the public. This book analyzes the causes of these barriers and suggests ways of dismantling them. The book is constructed in two parts: the first relates to social inclusion and the second to occupational inclusion. Throughout, the text is annotated with quotes from consumers to illustrate their experience of the issues discussed. The innovations outlined are described in sufficient detail for the reader to implement them in their own practice.

Social Inclusion of People with Mental Illness

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Warner, Richard

Mental Health

Cambridge University Press

Book by Leff, Julian, Vaughn, Christine

Expressed Emotion in Families: Its Significance for Mental Illness

Vaughn, Christine

The Guilford Press

Family Work for Schizophrenia

Kuipers, Liz

Lam, Dominic

Gaskell Books (Royal College of Psychiatrists)

This book is a companion volume to Family Work for Schizophrenia, 2nd edition and gives more detailed explanations of how to work with difficult cases. For more than ten years, Professor Leff has been supervising family work for psychosis with mental health teams in North and South London. From comprehensive records of about 150 families discussed during supervision, he has distilled nineteen anonymised case histories illustrating the most difficult problems encountered in such work. Each family is described in detail as presented by the supervisee. Then, the author gives his understanding of the problems in a social and cultural context, and makes recommendations for ongoing family work. Follow-up of the families ranges from three to thirty months, and is charted with further recommendations at each supervision session. A summary is presented of the work with each family, including its successes and failures and the lessons learned. The detailed histories and follow-ups constitute an ideal learning experience for both skilled therapists and novices engaged in family work with patients suffering from psychosis.

Advanced Family Work for Schizophrenia

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Leff, Julian. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Leff, Julian