Psychiatrische Praxis und psychische Störungen. Definition, Kritik und Soziale Arbeit in der Ps

Academic work from 2008 in the field of Social Work, grade: 2.3, University of Cologne, language: German.

Abstract: This paper aims to provide the reader with an overview of the psychiatric care system and the various therapeutic options for mental disorders. To this end, the concept of mental disorder is defined at the outset using psychological and sociological approaches. Following this, a diagram illustrates the psychiatric care structure. Subsequently, a connection to social work is established, and the care structure is critically analyzed.

First of all, it should be noted that psychiatry does not exist in a singular form; the term can have multiple meanings, which will be explained in this chapter. Psychiatry, as a subfield of medicine, deals with disturbances in experience and changes in human behavior. Psychopathology is the science of pathological changes in mental life and forms the scientific foundation of psychiatry. Characteristic of psychiatry as a medical discipline is its positioning between the natural and social sciences, which is rooted in various fields such as neurobiochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, psychology, and sociology. The goal of psychiatry is to restore or maintain the individual's perception, experience, and ability to connect with others. The tasks of psychiatry include the diagnosis, therapy, research, and prevention of mental disorders.