Critical History of Schizophrenia

Kieran McNally previously studied and worked at the Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK. He is currently Adjunct Lecturer in Psychology at University College Dublin, Ireland, specializing in the history of psychiatry. He is also the author of the ecological and social history, The Island Imagined by the Sea.

“McNally’s overall goal—to analyze critically all attempts to define and delineate schizophrenia—is admirable. His attention to detail and his ability to reflect deeply on primary sources are clear strengths of his work. A Critical History of Schizophrenia will no doubt encourage greater awareness of the variability, inconsistency, and unpredictability of the concept of schizophrenia over time. This is a very important task, to which this book contributes a great deal.” (Bonnie Evans, ISIS, Vol. 108 (4), 2017)“I have been gleefully reading Kieran McNally's book on the history of schizophrenia, which turns out to be a compendium of great detail and fascination. … It makes the book enormously valuable both as a treasure trove (in addition to an almost 30 page long reference section, there is a further 10 pages of recommended reading) and as a contribution to our understanding of this unwieldy but influential idea.” (Psychodiagnosticator, psychodiagnosticator.blogspot.de, December, 2016)“This is a text that should be prescribed reading for all entering the mental health professions. It acts as a helpful antidote to the ahistorical certainty of many textbooks and many training courses.” (Pádraig Collins, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 61 (4), 2016)

• Introduction 1. Schizodia: The Lexicon2. The Split Personality3. Definitions of Schizophrenia4. Catatonia: Faces in the Fire5. Chasing the Phantom: Classification6. Myth and Forgetting: Bleuler's Four As7. Social Prejudice8. Contesting Schizophrenia?9. Manufacturing Consensus in North America10. 20th Century SchizophreniaEpilogue: Consider NijinskyAppendix A: Goodbye to Hebephrenia