This book looks at the roots of modern psychiatry, its theoretical approach to women, and what shifting trends in diagnosis tell us about its social underpinning. Arguing at both an epistemological and empirical level, Russell challenges the biological base of conditions such as schizophrenia, depression, premenstrual syndrome, anorexia, bulimia and female criminality.

About the Author
Denise Russell is Senior Lecturer in the Department of General Philosophy at the University of Sydney.

Reviews
'Her book beautifully integrates Phyllis Chester's seminal work, Women and Madness. Must reading for upper-division undergraduates, graduates, and professional practitioners in all fields relating to women's health.' Choice

'... In this comprehensive critique she systematically analyses and dismisses the bases of psychiatric intervention into the lives of women... What Russell has accomplished in this excellent book is to draw together a number of different arguments, each of which has been covered by other writers, under this one comprehensive assault on the epistemological base of biological psychiatry. Denise Russell is to be congratulated in presenting this timely reminder that the debate goes on.' History of the Human Sciences

'Women, Madness and Medicine continues (or more accurately, restates) a tradition in the feminist critique of the mental health professions whose roots are in the work of Phyllis Chesler, the original analyst of the parallels between patriarchy and psychotherapy ... useful and interesting commentary and reviews.'
Contemporary Psychology

Book Information
ISBN 9780745612614
Author Denise Russell
Format Paperback
Page Count 208
Imprint Polity Press
Publisher John Wiley and Sons Ltd
Weight(grams) 340g
Dimensions(mm) 229mm * 155mm * 15mm