Non-Pharmacological Biological Treatments of Psychiatric Patients

The comparative effects of psychosocial and biological factors in the causation of mental illness have provided a source of argument, sometimes heated, at least since the 17th century. In recent times the psychosocial approach has enjoyed a long period of eminence. Genetics was decried and those with biological leanings were derisively referred to as ‘organic psychiatrists’. In the last few years we have seen the psychosocial approach diminished by such observations as those of Andrews’ who has shown that the stresses of life events are very much less important when judged prospectively than retrospectively; and of Henderson et al.’ who, following their detailed and well-designed research studies, concluded that ‘the causes of neurosis lie much more within the person than within the social environment’ - adding that ‘the findings . . . are for the most part unexpected . . . and they call for a reconsideration of some basic issues in the principles and practice of psychiatry’. Genetics has been reinstated, for its opponents have been unable to find any answer to the studies of adoptees that have not only re-emphasised the importance of heredity in schi~ophrenia~,~ and manic-depressive illne~s,~ but also in a1coholism6~’ and