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Module Title
LM Philosophy and Mental Health
School
Phil, Theology and Religion
Department
Philosophy
Module Code
09 27122
Module Lead
Lisa Bortolotti
Level
Masters Level
Credits
20
Semester
Semester 2
Pre-requisites
Co-requisites
Restrictions
None
Exclusions
Description
The module provides an overview of contemporary debates in philosophy psychiatry and mental health. In each seminar a new issue will be investigated, but there will be three interrelated threads throughout the module. One is about the nature of psychiatry. The second is about the sense in which psychiatric disorders are disorders of the self. The third is about how we should respond to people diagnosed with psychiatric disorders, considered from a wide range of perspectives, including interpersonal, clinical, ethical, legal and public health policy. These themes will be addressed by reference to different aspects of psychiatry (classification, diagnosis, aetiology, research, treatment, etc.) and different psychiatric disorders (addiction, anorexia, dementia, dissociation, schizophrenia, personality disorders, psychopathy, etc.) and different disciplinary frameworks. The module will also have a practical element involving structured, outcome-focussed deliberation about difficult cases highlighting these threads and their interrelations. Topics to be addressed may include:
Is mental illness a myth? Critique of the medical model by the anti-psychiatry movement and discussion of ‘eliminativism' about psychiatry.
Genes and environment: causes, explanations, interventions
Patient perspectives: narratives, emotions, needs, and values
How do cognitive, volitional and emotional memory deficits impact on the construction and preservation of the self, autonomy, and decision-making capacity
The nature of delusions
The nature of disorders of agency
How do psychiatric disorders impact on moral and legal responsibility.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the module students should be able to:
demonstrate a thorough familiarity and understanding of the areas of philosophy covered by the module, and especially conceptual ethical, and law and policy issues arising from psychiatric research and clinical practice.
manifest expertise in the philosophical skills required for productive independent research on the topics of the module, such as the ability to find, interpret and analyse difficult (sometimes technical) texts, the ability to construct rigorous arguments concerning these issues, the ability to analyse and criticise others’ arguments, and the ability to situate philosophical debates within a wider context.
communicate results of interpretation, analysis and independent research in writing (observing the appropriate academic conventions).
Assessment
27122-02 : Option 1: 4000 word essay : Coursework (100%)
27122-03 : Option 2: 2 x 2000 word essay : Coursework (100%)
Assessment Methods & Exceptions
Assessment: One 1 x 4,000 word essay (100%)OR 2 x 2,000 word assignments (50% each) where one assignment is an essay and the other one is another piece of writing from a choice of analysis of a case study, blog post, book review, or dialogue.
