The unbalanced mind

Summary: Do defective genes give rise to defective thought? The revolution in molecular genetics has given rise to the increasing optimism that advancements in biotechnology will soon uncover the causes of all disturbances of mind and behavior. In this book Leff, a leading psychiatrist, emphasizes what is known about the psychological, social, and cultural factors underlying mental illness. This leading psychiatrist rebuts the current thinking that biology will soon explain all mental health disorders. In an effort to dispel fears of a future in which genetic manipulation will tailor human behavior to match the desires of the manipulator, Leff (social and cultural psychiatry, Institute of Psychiatry, London) emphasizes the social dimension of mental health. She considers areas of the social network at scales ranging from intimate relationships to whole cultures.