This book explores the central questions and themes lying at the heart of a vibrant area of philosophical inquiry. Aligning core issues in psychiatry with traditional philosophical areas, it presents a focused overview of the historical and contemporary problems dominating the philosophy of psychiatry.Beginning with an introduction to philosophy of psychiatry, the book addresses what psychiatry is and distinguishes it from other areas of medical practice, other health care professions and psychology. With each section of the companion corresponding to a philosophical subject, contributors systematically cover relevant topics in philosophy of mind, philosophy of science, ethics, social and political philosophy, metaphysics, epistemology, phenomenology, and philosophy of medicine. Looking ahead to new research directions, chapters address recent issues including the metaphysics of mental disorders, gender and race in psychiatry and psychiatric ethics.Featuring discussion questions, suggestions for further reading and an annotated bibliography, The Bloomsbury Companion to Philosophy of Psychiatry is an accessible survey of the debates and developments in the field suitable for undergraduates in philosophy and professional philosophers new to philosophy of psychiatry.

Table of ContentsPart I: Introduction1. Introduction to Philosophy of Psychiatry, Serife Tekin and Robyn Bluhm2. What is Psychiatry?, Mona GuptaStudy QuestionsPart II: Philosophy of Mind and Psychiatry3. Understanding the Nature of Mental States: Psychiatry, the Mind-Body Problem, and the Biopsychosocial Model of Medicine, Jesse Butler4. "Aren't Mental Disorders Just Brain Dysfunctions?" and Other Frequently Asked Questions About Mental Disorders, Ginger A. Hoffman5. Psychopathy, autism, and basic moral emotions: Evidence for sentimentalist constructivism, Erick Jose Ramirez6. Anorexia Nervosa and the Embodied Mind, Lana KühleStudy QuestionsPart III: Phenomenology and Psychiatry7. Merleau Ponty and the Foundations of Psychopathology, Anthony Fernandez8. Transformation Through Dialogue: Gadamer and the Phenomenology of Impaired Intersubjectivity in Depression, Constantin-Alexander MehmelStudy QuestionsPart IV: Philosophy of Science and Psychiatry9. Philosophy of Science, Psychiatric Classification, and the DSM, Jonathan Y. Tsou10. Inductive Risks and Psychiatric Classification, Aaron Kostko11. Causal Explanation in Psychiatry, Tuomas K. Pernu12. Trauma-Informed Psychiatric Research, Ami HarbinStudy QuestionsPart V: Ethics and Psychiatry13. Informed Consent in Psychiatry: Philosophical and Legal Issues, Claire Pouncey and Jon F. Merz14. The Ethics of Coercion and Other Forms of Influence, Kelso Cratsley15. Voice, silencing, and listening well: Socially located patients, oppressive structures, and an invitation to shift the epistemic terrain, Nancy Nyquist Potter16. Mental illness, agency, and responsibility, Michelle Ciurria17. Philosophers, Psychopaths, and Neuroethics, Matthew RubleStudy QuestionsPart VI: Social and Political Philosophy and Psychiatry18. Neurodiversity Theory and its Discontents, Robert Chapman19. Managing Individuals and Populations Through Psychiatric Classification, Devonya Havis and Melissa Mosko20. The North African Syndrome: Traversing the Distance to the Cultural 'Other', Bryan MukandiStudy QuestionsPart VII: Metaphysics, Epistemology, and Psychiatry21. Mental Disorder, Free Will, and Personal Autonomy, Christian Perring22. Metaphysical Problems in Psychiatric Classification and Nosology, Peter Zachar23. Scientific realism, anti-realism and psychiatric diagnosis, Sam Fellowes24. Social Epistemology and Psychiatry, Anke BueterStudy QuestionsPart VIII: Philosophy of Medicine and Psychiatry25. The Functions of Diagnoses in Medicine and Psychiatry, Hane Htut Maung26. Mental Health and Illness: Past Debates and Future Directions, Reinier SchuurStudy QuestionsAnnotated Bibliography/Further ReadingIndex