Social psychiatry lives!

Abstract

In this journal Ikkos examines the work of the American sociologist Owen Whooley, who argues that US psychiatry has gone through five paradigm shifts without defining the object of its own expertise. We look at the substance of Whooley's methods and assumptions and offer our observations on Ikkos's argument and conclusions.

Keywords

• Social psychiatry
• distress
• mental health services
• psychosis
• social outcomes