Psychophobia and its Cure: An existential phenomenological perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65828/q3kwza68Keywords:
Psychosis, psychophobia, existential psychoanalysis, Laing, McDonaldisationAbstract
This paper examines psychophobia, including society's fear of extreme mental states, using ideas from existential psychoanalysis. It critiques the medicalisation of mental health, emphasising iatrogenic harm and the assault on interiority. Advocating for psychophobia-free phenomenological therapeutic approaches, it highlights the transformative potential of authentic human connection and radical agency.
Complete access to the full archive of articles is available with SEA membership. Existing members: please log in with your membership password to view full text. Non-members can buy a single article or issue by registering an account on this website, then selecting a padlocked full text button to purchase.
References
American Psychiatric Association (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: 5th edition. Washington, DC: Author. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
Beckett, S. (2009 [1957]). Endgame and Act Without Words. New York: Grove Press.
Boublil, E. & Calcagno, A. (eds.) (2023). Rethinking Interiority: Phenomenological approaches. Albany: State University of New York Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/book.133652
Boyle, D. (2024). Beyond Real: AI and virtual reality in modern psychotherapy [Workshop]. Zoom.
Butler, J. (1990). Gender Trouble: Feminism and the subversion of identity. London: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203824979
Cohen, H. (2024). Commemorating Hans W. Cohen: 20 years on. London: Society for Existential Analysis.
Correll, C.U., Rubio, J.M. & Kane, J.M. (2018). What is the risk-benefit ratio of long-term antipsychotic treatment in people with schizophrenia? World Psychiatry. 17 (2): 149-160. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20516
Davis, W.A. (1989). Inwardness and existence: Subjectivity in/and Hegel, Heidegger, Marx and Freud. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
Deegan, P.E. (1996). Recovery and the Conspiracy of Hope. http://akmhcweb.org/recovery/deegan-recovery-hope.pdf [Accessed on 19 November 2024] DOI: https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526482105.n5
Delano, L. (2025). Unshrunk: A story of psychiatric treatment resistance. New York: Random House.
Derrida, J. (2004 [1972]). Dissemination. Trans. Johnson, B. London: Continuum.
Grof, S. & Grof, C. (2017). Spiritual emergency: Understanding and treatment of transpersonal crises. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies. 36 (2): 111-126. DOI: https://doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2017.36.2.30
Habermas, J. (1987). The Theory of Communicative Action: Lifeworld and system – a critique of functionalist reason Vol. 2. Boston: Beacon Press.
Harrow, M. & Jobe, T.H. (2018). Long-term antipsychotic treatment of schizophrenia: Does it help or hurt over a 20-year period? World Psychiatry. 17 (2): 162-163. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20518
Hegel, G.W.F. (1977 [1821]). The Philosophy of Right. Trans. Knox, T.M. London: Oxford University Press. Galaxy Books.
Ho, B-C., Andreasen, N.C., Ziebell, S., Pierson, R. & Magnotta, V. (2011). Long-term antipsychotic treatment and brain volumes: A longitudinal study of first-episode schizophrenia. Archives of General Psychiatry. 68 (2): 128-137. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.199
Hokusai, K. (1831). The Great Wave Off Kanagawa [Woodblock print]. In Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji.
Inner Compass Initiative (2024). About. https://www.theinnercompass.org/ [Accessed on November 2024]
Jaspers, K. (1997). General Psychopathology Vols. 1 & 2. Trans. Hoenig, J. & Hamilton, M.W. London: Johns Hopkins University Press. DOI: https://doi.org/10.56021/9780801858154
Karon B.P. (2003). The tragedy of schizophrenia without psychotherapy. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis. 31: 89-118 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1521/jaap.31.1.89.21931
Laing, R.D. (1965). Transcendental experience in relation to religion and psychosis. The Psychedelic Review. 6: 7-15.
Laing, R.D. (1990 [1960]). The Divided Self. London: Penguin. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781911501787.00000003
Laing, R.D. (1967). The Politics of Experience and the Bird of Paradise. New York: Pantheon Books.
Laing, R.D. (1987). Did You Used to Be R.D. Laing? [Documentary]. Dir. Kirk, A. London: Third Mind Productions.
Lenharo, M. (2024). The consciousness wars: Can scientists ever agree on how the mind works? Nature. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00107-7, 625(7995), 438-440 [Accessed on 19 November 2024]. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00107-7
Middleton, H. (2024). Toxic Interactions and the Social Geography of Psychosis: Reflections on the epidemiology of mental disorder. London: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429059094
Montgomery, M.R. (2016). The McDonaldization of psychotherapy? Existential Analysis: Journal of The Society for Existential Analysis. 27.2: 244-256. DOI: https://doi.org/10.65828/p699gp70
Montgomery, M.R. (2018). An exploration of the psychotherapist's fear, anxieties and changing capacity for risk tolerance, when working with expressed suicidal ideation by a client: A grounded theory study. Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling Psychology Reflections. 3 (2): 29-36.
Moran, L.V., Skinner, J.P., Shinn, A.K., Nielsen, K., Rao, V., Taylor, S.T. & Ongur, D. (2024). Risk of incident psychosis and mania with prescription amphetamines. American Journal of Psychiatry. 181 (10): 901-909. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.20230329
Palais de Tokyo (2024). Psychophobia. https://palaisdetokyo.com/en/glossaire/psychophobia/ [Accessed on 22 November 2024.]
Pomponi, P. (2024). From the chair. Hermeneutical Circular. April: 4.
Ritzer, G. (2013). The McDonaldization of Society: 20th anniversary edition. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.
Rowe, C.E. Jr. (2009). 'Psychophobia' is a major current issue affecting psychoanalytic training and practice. Clinical Social Work Journal. 37 (1): 79-80. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10615-008-0186-9
Rowling, J.K. (1998). Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. London: Bloomsbury Publishing.
Sonnenberg, A. (2023). Polypharmacy killed my son. He's not alone. Time. https://www.time.com/6280929/polypharmacy-dangers-essay [Accessed on 22 November 2024.]
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2014). Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs). https://www.samhsa.gov/certified-community-behavioral-health-clinics [Accessed on 22 November 2024.]
Thompson, M.G. (2023). Essays in Existential Psychoanalysis: The primacy of authenticity. London: Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003429104
Thompson, M.G. (2004). The Ethics of Honesty: The fundamental rule of psychoanalysis. New York: Rodopi. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789401201049_004
Vu, L.H. & Muller, R.T. (2022). When spiritual crises show up in the mental health system. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com [Accessed on 21 November 2024.]
Wipond, R. (2023). Your Consent is not Required: The rise in psychiatric detentions, forced treatment and abusive guardianships. Dallas: BenBella Books.
Wittgenstein, L. (2001 [1922]). Tractatus logico-philosophicus. Trans. Pears, D.F. & McGuinness, B.F. Routledge. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/owc/9780198861379.001.0001
Žižek, S. (1989). The Sublime Object of Ideology. London: Verso.
