SERVICE USERS VIEWS OF PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENTS

Compared to other types of patients, the views of mental health servic e users have been attended to infrequently by sociologists. This paper presents quantitative and qualitative data on patients' views of thei r psychiatric treatments. The data was derived from a piece of action research conducted by the authors on behalf of the mental health chari ty MIND. With the exception of anti-depressants, chemotherapy is subst antially criticised, as is Electro Convulsive Therapy. Hospital based interventions (whatever their type) receive the poorest endorsement fr om recipients. Overall, talking treatments are favoured although group therapy is disliked. The data is discussed in the context of other so ciological work on the lay perspective.