Norman Sartorius

Hanfried Helmchen

Ethics in Psychiatry: (1) presents a comprehensive review of ethical issues arising in psychiatric care and research; (2) relates ethical issues to changes and challenges of society; (3) examines the application of general ethics to specific psychiatric problems and relates these to moral implications of psychiatry practice; (4) deals with recently arising ethical problems; (5) contains contributions of leading European ethicists, philosophers, lawyers, historians and psychiatrists; (6) provides a basis for the exploration of culture-bound influences on morals, manners and customs in the light of ethical principles of global validity.

European Contributions

Ethics in Psychiatry

Psychiatrisches Handeln zielt auf das Wohl des psychisch Kranken, birgt jedoch auch das Risiko unerwünschter Wirkungen. Diese "Doppelgesichtigkeit" der Psychiatrie kommt etwa darin zum Ausdruck, dass Nutzen und Risiken vom Arzt oft anders beurteilt werden, als sie der Kranke erlebt und einschätzt. Ziel des Buches ist es, für dieses gelegentlich als unlösbar antagonistisch beschriebene Spannungsverhältnis komplementär zu verstehende Lösungen zu entwickeln. Anhand konkreter, historisch begründeter, am bio-psycho-sozialen Modell orientierter Beispiele wird das Problem psychiatrischer Nutzen-Risiko-Abwägungen anschaulich gemacht und die Ambivalenz psychiatrischen Handelns im Trialog von Psychiatrie, Patient und Gesellschaft konstruktiv-kritisch reflektiert.

Nutzen und Risiken psychiatrischen Handelns

Das Janusgesicht der Psychiatrie

Fritz Henn

Hans Lauter

The German version of this work has a long tradition, and this fourth edition is the first to see an English version. Its main feature is the international approach regarding both authors and topics. The four internationally renowned editors were able to acquire the leading specialists for each field as contributors to the book. No less than 120 authors, half of them from non-German speaking countries, ensure an extremely high standard and that cross-cultural aspects are considered. Another major feature is that the book presents the evidence such that it may be examined from at least four different entry points -- via basic disciplines of psychiatric knowledge about groups defined by demographic criteria. Detailed linkages to other chapters allow the inclusion of neighbouring disciplines, such as the neurosciences and molecular biology. Contemporary Psychiatry is also unique in including chapters on psychiatric disorders caused by catastrophes, disasters etc. -- aspects totally neglected by normal textbooks. While this book gives an overall view of the state of the art of psychiatric knowledge, it even goes so far as to suggest future perspectives.

Hanfried Helmchen

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