Shrinks: The Untold Story of Psychiatry

 

　　雖然將瘋子用鐵鏈拴起來丟到地窖裡已經是很久以前的事了，但對心理醫生來說，比起找到診治疾病的方法，消除精神疾病的污名並不見得比較容易。對精神病患而言，飽受精神折磨之餘更要面對外界異樣眼光與差別待遇。好在開始研究至今，精神病學已成為醫療學門中的一項專業，大眾對其的認知也逐漸趨向正軌。

 

　　前美國精神醫學會會長Jeffrey Lieberman著筆，以個案紛呈的方式撰寫歷代為精神醫學開啟新猷的心理醫生，或備受爭議的行為療法與醜聞。從精神分析之父佛洛伊德到2000年諾貝爾獎得主肯德爾，可看到精神病學如何從神秘主義者口中的偽科學，經由形形色色的人物與各式各樣的案件，轉變為今日的嚴謹學問。Lieberman甚至開宗明義的表示，「書中記載史上各大騙子與江湖醫生的噁心治療及荒謬理論」。著名的爭議案例像是精神分析師Wilhelm Reich，認為精神官能症跟性高潮有關，並發展出植物性療法與能量學的理論。他說服病人脫去外衣，擊打身體各部位；將他們關在小箱子中以汲取生命能量，宣稱可以治癒病患。

 

　　全書分為三大主題，診斷的歷史、治療的歷史以及第三部分作者稱為「精神病學的重生」，講述最先進的診治方式及革新。Lieberman平鋪直述、慈悲的語氣，除了詳細的記載下數百年來精神醫學的演進史，也將看似複雜的理論與研究化為淺顯易懂的文句。

"An astonishing book: honest, sober, exciting, and humane... Shrinks] brings you to the very forefront of one of the most amazing medical journeys of our time." --Siddhartha Mukherjee

Psychiatry has come a long way since the days of chaining "lunatics" in cold cells. But, as Jeffrey Lieberman, MD, reveals in his eye-opening book, the path to legitimacy for "the black sheep of medicine" has been anything but smooth.

Dr. Lieberman traces the field from its birth as a mystic pseudo-science to its late blooming maturity--beginning after World War II--as a science-driven profession that saves lives. With fascinating case studies and portraits of the field's luminaries--from Sigmund Freud to Eric Kandel--SHRINKS is a gripping read, and an urgent call-to-arms to dispel the stigma of mental illnesses by treating them as diseases rather than unfortunate states of mind.

Jeffrey A. Lieberman, MD, is the Lawrence C. Kolb Professor and Chairman of Psychiatry at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and Director of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Formerly the President of the American Psychiatric Association, in 2000 he was elected to the National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine. He lives with his wife and two sons in New York City.