Inside Psychosis: A Clinical and Therapeutic Exploration of Working on Male and Female Acute Psychiatric Wards

This book offers an introductory overview of treatment of psychosis in inpatient acute ward settings, looking at both male and female wards.

Taking a broadly psychoanalytic perspective, the book explores the organizational dynamics on male and female acute wards, exploring both patient and staff dynamics. Containing detailed case studies from across male and female psychiatric wards in London, the author sets out how psychoanalytic concepts, such as transference, questions of trauma, and issues of gender can shape both the presentation of psychosis and our understanding and treatment of it. The book then explores the part played by religion in psychosis and equips readers with ideas for future practice and training on psychosis.

With clear guidance on how to understand and work with psychosis in an inpatient setting, and how many unconscious factors can affect patients and staff, this is key reading for psychiatrists, psychoanalysts and therapists, clinical psychologists, and other mental health professionals working in inpatient acute care and community settings.

Helen L Holmes is trained in Counselling Psychology, and is a registered Forensic psychodynamic psychotherapist, Family and Couples Practitioner, Therapeutic Counsellor, Accredited Autism Assessor, Accredited Mediator and clinical Supervisor, working in a Chelsea clinic and private practice in London. Helen has written and taught Psychology related courses at LSE, and innovated a clinical project about Adolescent self-harm at IOPPN, Kings College London.