The Glow of Synthesis Twelve Beacons of Light in Social Psychiatry

Unlike other such texts, this book approaches this central proposal of Social Psychiatry in a novel and unique way. It offers personal and professional portraits of twelve giants of this field. In separate essays devoted to each of these pioneers, the book not only details their contributions but also a critical assessment of the current status of their theoretical and clinical ideas. The result is a harmonious gestalt of knowledge, history, joyous celebration, and enhancement of the readers' capacity of understanding and treating their patients!

Of the three integral features of man's existence (bio-psycho-social), this collection of essays focuses on the third, namely the social. The book's fundamental premise is that no facet of human life (normal or psychopathological) can be fully understood without taking into account its sociocultural surround, including matters of history, ecology, religion, mythology, gender roles, economic status and so on.