How do we distinguish between madness, mental illness and emotional distress? What are the consequences of this distinction in the provision of care and for the protection of individual and society? The concept of mental illness, and how best to define and manage it, continue to be hotly debated and present vital challenges to students in the health and social sciences. Pulling together perspectives from sociology, psychiatry, psychology, philosophy, ethics and history, this multidisciplinary text introduces students to current theory and evidence in order to bring them to a critical understanding of the debate. In three chronologically structured sections, the book explores: -The development and organisation of Western psychiatry; -Challenges to and social critiques of biomedicine and psychiatry, and -Current controversies in mental health. An up-to-date and incisive introduction to the subject which includes illuminating case material, this book is essential reading for students of medicine, nursing, psychology, social work and social policy.