Psychiatry on the Stage How Plays Can Enhance Our Understanding of Psychiatric Conditions

Psychology and theater have often intersected in the most interesting ways to describe characters, situations, and interactions. Neuroscience is in the process of discovering how the brain longs for patterns that we find in theater and other art forms, and practitioners in psychiatry frequently refer to literature and drama to better understand patients. For instance, the Oedipal complex was first illustrated in Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, and Sigmund Freud largely derived his understanding of psychiatric complexes from his familiarity with Greek mythology.

Psychiatry on the Stage presents an overview of basic psychiatric principles applied to plays from the Greeks to modern times. Additional features include illustrative vignettes from the author's practice and several detailed indexes comprised of plays, corresponding playwrights, and various psychiatric and neurological disorders. As a board-certified psychiatrist and playwright, Dr. Berman is uniquely qualified to explore the connections between psychiatry and theater. This book is sure to appeal to both practitioners in the field of psychiatry and theater enthusiasts alike.

Carol W. Berman has practiced psychiatry in New York City for over 30 years and is the author of many books. She is a clinical assistant professor in psychiatry at New York University, where she earned her medical degree. An artist and playwright as well as a psychiatrist, her plays have been produced in many venues around NYC and abroad. Dr. Berman is a member of the American Psychiatric Association, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the Dramatists Guild.