This book is a study of schizophrenia in a modern psychiatric hospital. Its purpose is to develop a contextual understanding of schizophrenia by studying the clinical setting in which this disorder is experienced, diagnosed and treated. It arises from an anthropological investigation of the day-to-day work of clinical staff. The author offers a penetrating analysis of the language used by hospital staff as they write and talk about their patients and traces the evolution of the concept of schizophrenia, showing how contemporary theoretical constructs are applied by clinical staff. In its analysis of the schizophrenia team and of those experiencing the disorder, this book will reveal to mental health professionals many of the unspoken assumptions of their role. It will also confirm to social scientists and clinicians the power of the ethnographic approach in psychiatric research.

‘… a solid contribution to our understanding of the life of psychiatric institutions as one ground of cultural psychologies and ‘personologies’ … Like any productive utterance, it not only moves the conversation along, but shows where further work is needed.’

William S. Lachicotte Source: Folk

‘I recommend the book highly to clinicians and researchers … Clinicians in training, including psychiatric registrars, would, I believe, derive great benefit and be pleasurably educated.’

Helen Herrman Source: Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry