Vous voulez voir cette page en français ? Cliquez ici.

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Invisible Plague: The Rise of Mental Illness from 1750 to the Present
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images
Publisher: learn how customers can search inside this book.

Invisible Plague: The Rise of Mental Illness from 1750 to the Present [Hardcover]

E. Fuller, M.D. Torrey (Author), Judy Miller (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)

Available from these sellers.


Formats

 Amazon Price New from Used from
Hardcover --   -- --
Paperback CDN $26.40   -- --

Product Details

Product Description

From Booklist

In their refreshing, thoroughly documented, cogent reply to the current generally accepted interpretation of the incidence and even the existence of insanity, Torrey and Miller point out many holes in the arguments of other recent historians of the subject and don't push any single approach to schizophrenia and manic depression. Instead, they ask for a spirit of inquiry because so much about the rate of growth and the causes of mental illness remains unclear that open-minded research and clinical studies are still very much needed. Although there are a lot of statistics and graphs, as well as explication of them, in the book, there is also enough history of diagnosis and treatment in the U.S., England, Ireland, and Canada to fascinate readers whose favorite topic isn't numbers. The book delves deeply into clinical accounts and historic insane-asylum politics, funding, and social acceptance. Frequent reference to literary works and authors lightens the tone of the proceedings, as does the authors' hypothesis of a relationship between the wearing of stockings and the incidence of insanity. William Beatty
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Book Description

Examines the records on insanity in England, Ireland, Canada, and the United States over a 250-year period, concluding, through quantitative and qualitative evidence, that insanity is an unrecognized, modern-day plague.
See all Product Description

Tag this product

 (What's this?)
Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items.
Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most helpful customer reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars disappointing and unconvincing, Jun 11 2010
By 
John Whelan (Ottawa, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: The Invisible Plague: The Rise of Mental Illness from 1750 to the Present (Paperback)
I bought this book after reading reviews on various Amazon sites that suggested it was a history of mental illness in Britain and North America. Instead, it is an attempt to support the authors' belief that the incidence of 'insanity' has increased in the last three centuries due to 'urbanization'. The authors eventually define what they mean by 'insanity' in an appendix but even here there is no mention of differences in diagnostic criteria that have existed in different places at different times and still do exist. There is certainly no dearth of information in the book and some of it is accurate in itself but much seems to have been included more for 'padding' than for relevancy. I found the book unsatisfactory as medical history and unconvincing in its inferences.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


5.0 out of 5 stars The Insanity Plague!, April 24 2004
This review is from: Invisible Plague: The Rise of Mental Illness from 1750 to the Present (Hardcover)
_The Invisible Plague_ is written by psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey and examines the issue of the increase in worldwide cases of insanity since the eighteenth century. The book is at once both a scientific study which attempts to explain certain statistical data from different parts of the world, including Europe, the United States, and Canada, as well as a history of the mental asylum. Torrey examines in particular the issue of insanity and it's two principal forms - that of schizophrenia and that of manic-depressive psychosis. He also examines the role of insanity within literature, examining writings of such figures as Edgar Allen Poe, Hawthorne, and Melville, among others of course. Data from successive censuses taken in various countires seem to support Torrey's conclusions that insanity is indeed increasing, though with the era of deinstitutionalization this becomes more difficult to prove. Thus, according to Torrey, this issue may be covered up, because where formerly patients were admitted to asylums today they are not. Explanations for this increase have traditionally varied. Torrey also discusses some of the theories as to the causes of insanity - all biological, including genetics, stress, and environmental factors, as well as toxins and microbes in the environment. While the warnings in this book may appear alarmist, this book offers an informative introduction to the issue of insanity, which continues to plague the modern world despite its ancient origins. As a history text this book is good in that it reveals some of the developments which were responsible for the birth of modern day psychiatry and the state mental institution or asylum. Perhaps we can see in insanity, a reflection of the larger struggles of civilization as it makes its way from its birth pangs in ancient times, to its growth development, and eventual old age and decline.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, well researched, Aug 14 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Invisible Plague: The Rise of Mental Illness from 1750 to the Present (Hardcover)
This book was a delightful read. It is a fascinating trip back through history on a thought provoking topic, and the authors present their view in a scholarly manner. There is enough anecdotal information to keep it moving and interesting, and it is far from being "dry". If you have even a casual interest in the rise of mental illness in Britain and North America you'll definitely enjoy this book.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
Want to see more reviews on this item?
› Go to Amazon.com to see all 7 reviews  4.0 out of 5 stars 
 
 		 Most recent customer reviews


Only search this product's reviews


Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Look for similar items by subject























i.e., each book must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...

Feedback

Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?