There has been a great deal of publicity recently to highlight this debate, eg. the plea of insanity in high-profile court cases; the question of whether or not 'road rage' is a mental illness, etc.
The book is empirical and practical in its approach and lucidly debates an issue often obscured by dense philosophical language and/or medical terminology.
'This book is the most comprehensive treatment of the social constructionist approach to mental illness available.' - William W. Eaton
'The particular strength of this book is its ability to present both sides of this contemporary debate with clarity and precision ... it will therefore prove a valuable resource for those involved in mental health care and anyone wanting to consider the wider application of soical construct theory to particular contexts.' - Contact