Why Do People Get Ill? by Darian Leader and David Corfield
Thursday, 22 Feb 2007 20:53
The book uses case studies to back its assertions
Published by Hamish Hamilton, out February 22nd, hardback, 376 pages, £16.99
In a nutshell…
Educational. Insightful. Compelling.
What's it all about?
The authors discuss various case studies and hypotheses exploring the apparent fact that a person's mental and emotional states have a significant impact on their health.
Using the case studies to support their premise, the authors try to convince the reader that physicians and patients alike should consider the psyche as crucial to not only diagnosis of an illness but also in the type of treatment decided upon.
They introduce what is presented as "neglected" elements of medical history with new research studies from across the globe, bringing together a wealth of scientific sources spanning more than 40 pages of acknowledgements.
Who's it by?
Paris-based psychoanalyst Darian Leader is an art lover and regular Times columnist on matters relating to the psyche. He is the author of various books, including Why Do Women Write More Letters Than They Post? and Promises Lovers Make When It Gets Late.
Co-author David Corfield is an academic who has lectured at both Oxford and Cambridge in history and philosophy of science. He has penned the book Towards a Philosophy of Real Mathematics.
As an example…
Asking 'When did it start?' opens up the perspective of the patient's unique history. The answer might be rich and detailed, or it might not be, but at least the question gives the patient the opportunity to provide some real information. It's the difference between saying 'I've had the symptom for three months' and 'the symptom started when my wife left me three months ago'.
Likelihood of becoming a Hollywood blockbuster
It is likely that the authors may appear in some documentaries on TV, but this is hardly blockbuster material.
What the others say
"The evidence, the cases and the statistics that psychoanalyst Darian Leader and science historian David Corfield use add up to a wholesale attack on our medical system and its increasingly 'scientific' bias." - Lisa Appignanesi, The Observer
So is it any good?
An interesting take on the connection between mind and body, this book offers more than a bone dry textbook. However, a keen interest in the subject will come in handy when reading through the numerous case studies and discussions about various researchers' takes on the theme.
It discusses all elements of illness: symptoms, potential factors impacting on general wellbeing and the specific illness, treatment and the relationship between the patient and their doctor.
All types of disease also come under the spotlight, with everything from the common cold to life threatening illnesses discussed. The exploration also goes far more than what is commonly regarded as psychosomatic illnesses.
They argue for a new approach to medicine, highlighting the fact that patients visiting GPs in a city such as London only see the physician for between six and eight minutes and that half of patients and doctors disagree about the diagnosis.
They explore the kind of language used during consultations, referrals between GPs and specialists and the level of detailed attention given to the context of illnesses.
Proof is offered that something as seemingly inconsequential as a relative's pregnancy or a promotion at work could lead to a breakdown in the body's defences as it feels unable to cope with the stress of change.
Not exactly a riveting read, but quite interesting if you're interested in promoting healthy living and wellbeing – and in being immune against feeling paranoid about everything.
The book explores a concept so complex that countless case studies and references to research papers do little to really clarify the process, but instead give rise to more questions.
Which is perhaps the aim of a book of which the title is a question?
6/10
Karen Moller
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