Prescriptions for the Mind: A Critical View of Contemporary Psychiatry

by Joel Paris

Overview

Prescriptions for the Mind has been revised from its first edition in light of new developments in research and practice over the last 15 years. (These updates involve changes of 50% in the text). The book will be a critical assessment of where psychiatry stands today, as a science, and as a method of treatment. While the text acknowledges the triumphs of psychiatry, it takes a critical view of what is known, what is unknown, and what ideas and practices are most likely to stand the test of time. Its conclusions will be rooted in the principles of evidence-based psychiatry. It shows that both drugs and psychotherapy need to be prescribed with their limitations in mind.

The book will combine findings from many disciplines to develop an interactive biopsychosocial model of mental disorders. It will show that a purely biological perspective, as well as a purely psychosocial perspective, can lead to bad treatment choices. Its overall message about mental disorders is to think interactively. These principles are then applied to a wide range of categories of psychopathology (psychoses, mood disorders, PTSD, personality disorders), as well as how they can be applied to the practice of psychiatry, in both pharmacological therapies and psychotherapies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780197753965
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	05/03/2024
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Joel Paris, MD, was born in New York City, but has spent most of his life in Canada. He obtained an MD from McGill University, where he also trained in psychiatry. Dr. Paris has been a member of the McGill psychiatry department since 1972, and served as Department Chair from 1997 to 2007. Dr. Paris' research interest is in borderline personality disorder. He is an educator who has won awards for his teaching.

Table of Contents

Introduction Part I: Models 1. Neuroscience and Psychiatry 2. Psychotherapy and Psychiatry Part II: Diagnosis 3. Diagnosis in Psychiatry 4. The Boundaries of Mental Disorders 5. Mood and Mental Illness 6. Psychiatry's Problem Children 7. Personality and Personality Disorders Part III: Treatment 8. Evidence-Based Psychiatry 9. Psychiatric Drugs: Miracles and Limitations 10. Psychotherapies: Methods, Outcomes, and Accessibility 11. The Problem of Suicide 12. Psychiatry in Practice Part IV: Outlook 13. Training Psychiatrists 14. Psychiatry and Society 15. The Future of Psychiatry References

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Steven T Herron, MD (CPI/Assurance Health and Wellness)
Description: Penned as a critique of contemporary psychiatry, this book presents a brief history of psychiatry leading to its current state and offers the author's insights into how this will change in the future, emphasizing the roles of both pharmacology and therapy in treatment.
Purpose: The author's aim is to provide an overview of the practice of psychiatry, written from an insider's perspective, with the hope of enlightening nonprofessionals as well as educating those in the field.
Audience: This book is aimed at readers who are interested in the diagnosis, etiology, and treatment of mental health disorders. Professionals, as well as the general public, are intended to benefit from the author's analysis and perspective.
Features: Each of the four major sections delves into a different area to provide readers with an unfamiliar perspective. There are no diagrams, charts, tables, or illustrations. At its conclusion, the author includes both endnotes and an extensive list of references.
Assessment: For those who value the idea of self-reflection, the concept of a book examining both the positive and negative aspects of psychiatry should be a welcome addition to the field. Though much of the material in the initial chapters is useful and digestible, the remainder of the work appears, in part, to be based on personal opinion rather than fact. For example, the author objects to the use of psychiatrists as forensic experts, deeming this activity as outside the scope of psychiatry. Yet he fails to provide suggestions for how to adequately address cases in which individuals with mental illness are involved in the justice system. Similarly, when discussing the education of U.S. residents, the author suggests "not every program meets the same standards." However, the ACGME, and more specifically, the Psychiatry Residency Review Committee, regularly reviews residency programs and has a very specific set of training guidelines which must be followed for accreditation. While the RRC does not insure an entirely uniform educational experience, it does require that residents reach a level of competency in most major areas of psychiatry.

Doody's Review Service

"This is a bold, well-informed, articulate, and realistic assessment coming from an expert who explores the faults—and the smaller but still important advances—in psychiatry."—PsyCRITIQUES

"This is a multifaceted and thoughtful perspective on where psychiatry has been, where it is, and where it might be going, written by a leader on the journey."—New England Journal of Medicine

"Read Paris...and feel wiser. I recommend...to specialists and lay readers alike."—Todd Dusfrene, Professor of Philosophy and Research Chair at Lakehead University as reviewed in the Toronto Globe

"Accessible to anyone with an interest in the field, Prescriptions for the Mind provides a knowledgeable consideration of today's psychiatry by the experienced clinician, researcher and teacher, Joel Paris....Oftentimes, ideas about the future can be tiresomely unbelievable. Fabulously enough, Prescriptions for the Mind is not science fiction, but rather....sprinkled with optimism."—Metapsychology Online Reviews

"There is much about contemporary psychiatry to be worried about, and Dr. Paris is worried. Issues in diagnosis, matters of treatment, and how we work and are trained are all courageously addressed...I doubt that anyone will agree with all of his perspectives—I certainly did not—but I am sure that they will be respected as an honest effort to help the profession examine itself. This is the most critical aspect of the book...It is a service to the profession and to those who are trying to understand the profession and its work. I hope that many psychiatrists and people who care about psychiatry read this book and talk about it and about the big picture in front of us."—Kenneth S. Thompson, MD, as reviewed in Psychiatric Services

From the Publisher