Psychosis - Jane Ellwood

Bringing together a number of pioneering thinkers and workers ni the field of psychosis, this book provides an interrogation of 'official theories' surrounding schizophrenia and examines the range of ways in which psychosis can be thought about and worked with.

The first part of the book, which deals with the meaning of psychosis, presents papers on the development of psychosis from historical, social, theoretical and emotional perspectives. It explains current psychoanalytical ideas of the meaning of psychosis and looks at the ways in which psychoanalytic theorists have found meaning in the commuications of psychotic patients.

The more clinically oriented papters in the second part of the book focus on the treatment of psychosis. These describe ongoing work in therpeutic settings with people diagnosed as being schizophrenic, as well as the effects on staff working with psychotic patients.

This is an encouraging and stimulating book for students and professionals int he field of psychosis, who often feel isolated in their efforts to understand their patients.