This practical and accessible critique of the institutions, practices and presuppositions that underlie the study of `psychopathology′ will be invaluable for students and practitioners who are working to understand mental health and distress.
The authors - who come from backgrounds in clinical psychology, psychiatric social work, psychoanalysis, psychology teaching and action research - challenge the traditions of the field. They analyze the notion of `psychopathology′ as a conventional term in psychology and psychiatry through the language and institutions that hold it in place; and explore the implications of deconstructive ideas for the theories and practices that sustain clinical treatments; and offer an alternative way of seeing `psychopathology′, with accounts of critical professional work and good practice.
Deconstructing Psychopathology is invaluable reading for students, academics and practitioners across a range of disciplines who are working to understand mental health and distress, including
clinical and counselling psychology, psychiatry, psychiatric social work, counselling and psychotherapy.
Ian Parker is Professor of Psychology in the Discourse Unit at Bolton Institute. He is author of Psychoanalytic Culture (SAGE, 1997) and co-author of Deconstructing Psychopathology (SAGE, 1995). CONTRIBUTORS Steven D Brown Keele University Vivien Burr University of Huddersfield Andrew Collier University of Southampton Bronwyn Davies James Cook University Don Foster University of Cape Town Kenneth J Gergen Swarthmore College Rom Harre Oxford University Maritza Montero Universidad Central de Venezuela Jonathan Potter Loughborough University Joan Pujol University of Huddersfield Carla Willig Middlesex University