Since the advent of "medicine" as a discrete
practice, beliefs that bodily illness can somehow be
caused by psychological, emotional, and behavioural
"disorder" have been claimed by many in the discipline.
Such beliefs became less creditable as scientific
methods of detecting disease developed, with discoveries
such as the physiological and anatomical abnormalities
in Parkinson's disease and Multiple Sclerosis, for
example, and the organisms causing syphilis and duodenal
ulcers. Nevertheless, psychogenic explanations for
illnesses still appear frequently within medical and
academic literature, in "common sense" public
discourses, and in medical diagnoses of patients. But
how plausible are these explanations? Authors of our Own
Misfortune? proposes that psychogenic explanations for
physical illnesses are subject to a complex mix of
confusing concepts, accompanied by certain moralistic
and ideological assumptions about people and their
illnesses. Most crucially, such explanations are also,
almost always, fatally flawed, both scientifically and
logically. Furthermore, the widespread, uncritical
acceptance and use of such explanations has had serious
and specific adverse effects on the people upon whom
they are used. This is a timely, groundbreaking book
about a critical theme in medicine. It provides rigorous
analysis of the claims made about "mental disorder" and
bodily illness, using current "medical controversies"
(such as, but not limited to, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) to demonstrate the
problems with and adverse effects of such claims.
Authors of our Own Misfortune? is essential reading for
academics, health professionals, and those directly or
indirectly affected by psychogenic explanations for
illness.
|
|