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A review by sarahmcgurren13
The Great Pretender by Susannah Cahalan
3.0
This book was interesting. I thought the writing was all over the place, bouncing from one historical reference to the next (like this review). I found myself struggling to finish the last 100 pages. A few discussions I found interesting:
(1.) Rosenhan's study had a direct effect on the creation of the DSM-III.
(2.) The number of false studies mainstreamed into public knowledge and psychology coursework is astounding.
(3.) The closing of psychiatric hospitals in the 70's and 80's and its correlation with incarceration rates: I initially thought that the closing of psychiatric hospitals was a positive consequence of the study, however the author made me aware that psychiatric patients today are more likely worse off than psychiatric patients during this time period. It is more difficult to get a bed in a public psychiatric hospital than it is to get into Harvard. Instead, psychiatric patients are spending the time waiting for an open bed in jail. There is a reason why the incarceration rates of individuals with psychiatric disorders have risen is that there is no where for them to go to receive help and support for their troubles.
(1.) Rosenhan's study had a direct effect on the creation of the DSM-III.
(2.) The number of false studies mainstreamed into public knowledge and psychology coursework is astounding.
(3.) The closing of psychiatric hospitals in the 70's and 80's and its correlation with incarceration rates: I initially thought that the closing of psychiatric hospitals was a positive consequence of the study, however the author made me aware that psychiatric patients today are more likely worse off than psychiatric patients during this time period. It is more difficult to get a bed in a public psychiatric hospital than it is to get into Harvard. Instead, psychiatric patients are spending the time waiting for an open bed in jail. There is a reason why the incarceration rates of individuals with psychiatric disorders have risen is that there is no where for them to go to receive help and support for their troubles.