Psychiatry, subjectivity and emotion – deepening the medical model

Open Access

1 June 2014

journal article
Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in The Psychiatric Bulletin

Vol. 38 (3), 97-101
https://doi.org/10.1192/pb.bp.113.045260

Abstract

SummaryMorale among psychiatrists continues to be seriously challenged in the face of recruitment difficulties, unfilled posts, diagnostic controversies, service reconfigurations and public criticism of psychiatric care, in addition to other difficulties. In this article, we argue that the positivist paradigm that continues to dominate British psychiatry has led to an undervaluing of subjectivity and of the role of emotions within psychiatric training and practice. Reintegrating the subjective perspective and promoting emotional awareness and reflection may go some way towards restoring faith in the psychiatric specialty.

Keywords

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