Darwinian psychiatry

by Michael T. McGuire

In Darwinian Psychiatry, Michael T. McGuire and Alfonso Troisi provide a conceptual framework for integrating many features of prevailing models. Based on Darwinian theory rather than traditional approaches, the book offers clinicians a fundamentally new perspective for looking at the etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of psychiatric disorders. Writing from this innovative theoretical position, the authors discuss the origin of pathological conditions, the adaptive and maladaptive aspects of symptoms and syndromes, the biological basis of social relations, and many other key concepts. The authors suggest that when making diagnostic assessments, psychiatrists should evaluate not only the patient's symptoms but also their functional capacities, and that therapeutic interventions should work toward the achievement of biological goals.