Citation

Bates EM. Soc. Sci. Med. 1975; 9(10): 549-551.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1975, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/0037-7856(75)90111-0

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

There are currently two basic models of mental disorder: medical models and sociological models. These are briefly described and a medical-socio-educational model is proposed as being generally most effective.

A large scale survey of attitudes to mental disorder was done in Sydney. Generally, the mentally disordered were not rejected, but were pushed aside to the medical care system. However, it was found that the community was able to accept mentally disordered people even if they were not defined as ill. It has been suggested that there is some danger in allowing the status and power of medicine to assume control over such a large number of deviant people. If this is so, then newer models of mental disorder need to be disseminated more widely and social and educational services need to be available so that disturbed people can consult a variety of professionals, apart from doctors.