As part of our third year Independent Study module, students complete a series of popular science articles, addressing topical issues from an anthropological perspective. This week, our featured article is by Cerys Savinkina. Cerys’s bio: I am a third-year anthropology student with both Welsh and Ukrainian heritage. I have a variety of interests, with dietary Read More…
Category: medicalisation
Being Human: The anthropology of menstruation
As part of our first year Being Human module, students write an essay where they consider social and biological anthropological perspectives on a key topic in anthropology. This week, our featured essay is by Vlada Sosis. Vlada’s bio: I am a first year anthropology student, originally from Ukraine. After I finished a Fine Arts degree Read More…
CRESIDA webinar by Dr Derek Summerfield on the globalisation of western mental health
On 18 November 2020, Dr Derek Summerfield from the Institute of Psychiatry presented a webinar in the CRESIDA seminar series titled ‘Globalising Western ‘mental health’: psychiatry, spirits, ancestors and poverty. Case studies from UK, Zimbabwe, Cambodia’. Abstract The ongoing globalisation of Western psychiatry and psychology trades on universalistic assumptions about ‘mind’. These are at odds Read More…
Spotlight on… James Davies
Position: Reader in Social Anthropology and Mental Health at the University of Roehampton Bio: James obtained his doctorate in social and medical anthropology from the University of Oxford in 2006 with a dissertation the construction of the psychotherapeutic practitioner. He is also a qualified psychotherapist and has practiced in various settings, including the NHS. James Read More…
Millions are at risk from antidepressant withdrawal
The Journal of Addictive Behaviors has recently published a new systematic review which shows that antidepressant withdrawal is much more widespread, severe and long-lasting than indicated by current guidelines, with millions of antidepressant users in the U.K. potentially affected. ‘A Systematic Review into the Incidence, Severity and Duration of Antidepressant Withdrawal Effects: Are Guidelines Evidence- Read More…
Big pharma’s placebo problem
By James Davies Reprinted from Cracked: The Unhappy Truth About Psychiatry by James Davies. Copyright Pegasus Books © 2013 In May 1993, a mental disorder that had been in the DSM-III was repackaged, renamed, and given new life in DSM-IV. It was called Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder and was listed in the DSM as a mental disorder. Up Read More…
Culture, ‘Madness’ & Medicalisation: Social and biological perspectives on the rise of ADHD in children in the UK
In our third year Culture, ‘Madness’ and Medicalisation module, students receive a critical introduction to today’s dominant psychological/clinical practices such as psychoanalysis, bio-psychiatry, psychotherapy, counselling and clinical psychology and the importance of anthropology in illuminating how psychological/clinical practices are dramatically shaping contemporary subjectivities and wider socio/cultural life. This year, our featured essay from the module is Read More…
