Two “Mind”-“Body” Models for a Holistic Psychiatry

Abstract

(from the chapter) The two essays that make up this chapter are presented as alternative "mind"-"body" positions for a biopsychosocial medicine and psychiatry. They piggyback on four earlier and longer papers. I take no position on whether the two models presented are in any way compatible with each other. However, I believe that there are at least some areas of overlap between the two. I confess that in many respects, I prefer the second over the first. Even so, I believe that walking through the first facilitates appreciation of the second and of its extensions in Chapter 25 (see record 2006-20608-025). In addition, if we invoke (like Sir Karl Popper) an evolutionary epistemology, then it is impossible to have a surplus of models to select from. Both are, in the spirit of the times, integrating moves on "mind"-"body" and the philosophy and theory of psychiatry. I hope, and believe, that--based on neurobiological and social scientific investigations and evidence, and clinical studies--we shall arrive at such a model, though probably not in our lifetimes, for there is still too much work and hard thinking ahead. Moreover, integrative attempts in psychiatry/psychology are very much in the spirit of contemporary natural science, which tries to reduce, as much as possible, metaphysical quandaries and positions to its own explanatory and applied categories--in other words, to convert metaphysical "ontologies" (i.e., theories of being) to scientific ones. After this chapter, Chapter 25 goes back in time to a pertinent and interesting topic, "Freud on Mind-Body." In it I also reflect back on both parts of this chapter and consider further the extent to which the "functionalism" of the second part of this chapter might also be construed as a subtype of "identity theory" (with "type-type" as well as "token-token" features). See also Chapter 26 (see record 2006-20608-026), for more on Freud. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved) (chapter)