Our Most Troubling Madness: Case Studies in Schizophrenia Across Cultures

Our Most Troubling Madness: Case Studies in Schizophrenia Across Cultures
ISBN-10
0520291085
ISBN-13
9780520291089
Category
Social Science
Pages
302
Language
English
Published
2016-10-04
Publisher
Univ of California Press
Author
Jocelyn Marrow

Description

Schizophrenia has long puzzled researchers in the fields of psychiatric medicine and anthropology.Ê Why is it that the rates of developing schizophreniaÑlong the poster child for the biomedical model of psychiatric illnessÑare low in some countries and higher in others? And why do migrants to Western countries find that they are at higher risk for this disease after they arrive? T. M. Luhrmann and Jocelyn MarrowÊargue that the root causes of schizophrenia are not only biological, but also sociocultural. Ê This book gives an intimate, personal account of those living with serious psychotic disorder in the United States, India, Africa, and Southeast Asia. It introduces the notion that social defeatÑthe physical or symbolic defeat of one person by anotherÑis a core mechanism in the increased risk for psychotic illness. Furthermore, Òcare-as-usualÓ treatment as it occurs in the United States actually increases the likelihood of social defeat, while Òcare-as-usualÓ treatment in a country like India diminishes it.

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