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A social paradigm in psychiatry – themes and perspectives

Part of: Special Articles

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2016

S. Priebe
S. Priebe*
Affiliation:
Unit for Social & Community Psychiatry (WHO Collaborating Centre for Mental Health Service Development, Queen Mary University of London)
*
*Address for correspondence: Professor S. Priebe, Queen Mary's University of London, Social Psychiatry, London, UK. (Email: [email protected])
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Abstract

Aims.

Psychiatry as science is underpinned by paradigms. Considering whether a social paradigm may help to advance the current state of psychiatry, the review provides a reference to the rich, but fragmented past of related initiatives in the history of psychiatry and a personal view of themes, challenges and perspectives of using a social paradigm in psychiatry.

Methods.

Major themes are the evidence on social determinants of mental health; the value-based importance of integrating people with mental disorders in society; options to overcome the social isolation and improve the networks of psychiatric patients; utilising a systemic approach for interventions in families and communities; and understanding group and one-to-one treatments in psychiatry primarily as social interactions. Whilst all these themes open up perspectives for future action and/or research, there are also conceptual challenges through the limitations of the current construct of mental disorders and the dominating terminology.

Results.

Initiatives for using a social paradigm in psychiatry may refer to important achievements in the past, but need to go beyond this and consider on-going societal changes.

Conclusion.

Innovation may benefit from close collaboration with social sciences and humanities.

Keywords

interactionsmental health caresocial constructssocial determinantssocial networkssocial paradigmsocial psychiatry
Type
Special Article
Information
Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences , Volume 25 , Issue 6 , December 2016 , pp. 521 - 527
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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