Language in Psychiatry; A Handbook of Clinical Practice; Jonathan Fine

Jonathan Fine† [+–]

Bar-Ilan University

Jonathan Fine, who died in September 2015, taught in the department of English at Bar-Ilan University. He published studies on the language of psychiatric syndromes including pervasive developmental disorders, schizophrenia, and attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder. His other research includes discourse analysis, systemic functional theory, first and second language acquisition and genre. He edited or authored five books on language in use including Language in Psychiatry: A Handbook of Clinical Practice (Equinox).

This book is designed to enable clinicians and clinicians in training to become sensitive to a range of language phenomena that are important for the diagnosis, treatment and research of psychiatric disorders. The introductory chapters assume no prior knowledge of linguistics and outline an approach to language that focuses on meaning and communication, ranging from cultural issues to syntax and intonation. The volume deals in turn with the major categories of syndromes in psychiatry which have language as an important characterizing feature. Linguistic concepts are keyed to diagnostic criteria to make the material accessible to the practitioner. For each disorder, the diagnostic criteria that are related to language are outlined in specific linguistic terms. Thus the familiar diagnostic criteria are enriched by linguistic descriptions that range from aspects of culture that constrain what can make sense in society to aspects of intonation and wording. The volume is supplemented with appendices that link the diagnostic criteria to the language features that are heard. Over 50 tables and diagrams provide summary information linking psychiatric categories, language features and language examples.

Series: Equinox Textbooks and Surveys in Linguistics

Foreword

Foreword [+–]

Bill Fraser

University of Wales

Prelims – Preface

Preface [+–] 1 – 4

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

Chapter 1

Why look at language in psychiatry? [+–] 5 – 28

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

This volume presents an approach to listening in psychiatry. Much of clinical practice is dependent on information and impressions gained from interaction with patients. The clinical picture emerges from this interaction and in a holistic way leads to the diagnosis and, to some extent, suggestions for treatment. From the clinical perspective, this volume is about what goes into listening appropriately, or, put another way, what the clinician has to be aware of in language.

Chapter 2

The kinds of meanings to be heard [+–] 29 – 88

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

This chapter outlines the meanings conveyed by language since hearers often take disruptions in these meanings as indicating a psychiatric disorder. To notice the unexpected, it is important to have a systematic view of the expected uses of language in context.

Chapter 3

Meaning oddly: how a speaker can sound strange [+–] 89 – 128

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

This chapter starts with the different kinds of meanings and outlines how disruptions in each kind of meaning sound clinically. Succeeding chapters map specific atypicalities of meaning and wording onto disorders and diagnostic criteria.

Chapter 4

Communication Disorders [+–] 129 – 152

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

In this chapter, the author deals with Communication Disorders in terms of its use in psychiatry and how it relates to other psychiatric disorders. Since the language features of Communication Disorders may overlap with other disorders, it is important to separate the disorders from each other. If individuals with dissimilar substrates are combined in one disorder because the communication issues are similar, it will be very difficult to treat individuals effectively or to search for underlying factors. By separating the disorders, it is possible and perhaps even easier, to search for coherent cognitive, biological or other accounts of the disorders.

Chapter 5

Pervasive development disorders [+–] 153 – 174

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

The authors’ objective later in this chapter is to identify the language that leads to conclusions of stereotyped interests.

Chapter 6

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder [+–] 175 – 196

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

Chapter 7

Psychotic disorders [+–] 197 – 236

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

In this chapter the authors explore how schizophrenia can be expressed through spoken language. The surface phenomena, mainly in language, may give rise to the diagnosis of schizophrenia and may be the reason why society bothers with the phenomena. The goal here is to understand schizophrenia from the social interface that language constructs. This verbal social interface is largely what draws schizophrenia to the attention of others. More broadly, we interpret psychosis as discontinuity with the context in several ways. The discontinuity is evident largely in how some speakers use language.

Chapter 8

Mood disorders [+–] 237 – 258

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

This chapter analyses how mood disorders can reflect on language and the way that individuals express their feelings verbally.

Chapter 9

Personality disorders [+–] 259 – 282

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

In this chapter the authors show how excess or scarcity of specific interpersonal and ideational meanings are interpreted by the clinician as atypicalities of inner experience. Our approach is to conceptualise the disorders as observable characteristics of verbal behaviour rather than as the more traditional atypicalities of inner experience.

Chapter 10

The partnership of language and psychiatry [+–] 283 – 300

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

This chapter is divided into three sections: Section 10.1 where we are in terms of conceptualising psychiatric categories in terms of language; Section 10.2 which explores the conceptual problems and research issues that are raised by considering psychiatric categories in terms of language used in context and Section10.3, the new areas that are opened up for investigation and the new goals that can be set for research on language and psychiatric disorders.

References

References [+–] 301 – 305

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

Glossary

Glossary [+–] 306 – 326

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

Appendix A

Appendix A [+–] 324 – 327

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

Appendix B

Appendix B [+–] 328 – 345

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

Index

Index [+–] 346 – 351

Jonathan Fine†

Bar-Ilan University

Reviews

‘Psychiatrists could better help their patients by adding linguistic analysis, which is well introduced here, to listening to their patients.’
Andrew Sims, Royal College of Psychiatrists, The British Journal of Psychiatry, 2008

‘Chapters carefully and in great detail describe the peculiar and abnormal aspects of language use, verbal and nonverbal, that typify neuropsychiatric disorders. The author provides clear-cut examples derived from patients to illustrate the linguistic features that he describes… This book is interesting and stimulating, especially for those psychiatric practitioners who pay attention to and are fascinated by the ever-challenging connections between verbal and nonverbal communications as they characterize and help identify neuropsychiatric disorders.’
Louis A. Gottschalk,MD, PhD, The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 2007

‘Fine has a high reputation for publishing across a range of clinical conditions from anxiety states to the Pervasive Developmental Disorders and is possibly the most currently highly qualified professional to write this handbook. He has used everyday language and clear examples of normal and deviant texts to describe and explain problems of intonation, meaning, phonology, grammar and pragmatics. The clinician and general practitioner (general practitioner or Psychiatrist) could open this book and find out forthwith why his/her patient sounds odd.’
Bill Fraser, Emeritus Professor of Psychiatry, Cardiff University

‘This interesting and enlightening book covers the linguistic features of the verbal discourse in patients with psychiatric disorders. Written and edited by an internationally recognized linguist who focuses on psychopathology, this book is a welcome addition to the psychiatric literature… An excellent neew book covering an important manifestation of psychopathology. Psychiatrists interested in improving their clinical skills would benefit from reading this valuable book.’
Michael J. Schrift, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, Doody’s Notes, 2007

‘As it stands, given the research tradition it situates itself in, and the audience/s it targets, the volume serves its purpose very well, and I applaud Fine for moving this research area forward.’
Vaidehi Ramanthan, University of California, Davis, in Applied Linguistics Review, 2008

‘Demonstrates the importance of linguistic abilities in psychiatric intervention. This book presents innovative approaches to listening during psychiatric diagnosis and interventions.’
International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2009

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Language in Psychiatry

A Handbook of Clinical Practice

Jonathan Fine† [+–]

Bar-Ilan University

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