ABSTRACT
This chapter provides wandering madness with a place where it belongs, though this will involve some repetition. The theory of clinical states, which sees pathology in phases from normal to neurotic to personhood disordered to psychotic, does not correspond to levels of madness. The theory of clinical states is useful as a perspective, but lacks the capacity to assess the level of madness and suffering by drawing upon the therapist's whole self. The mental health perspective remains rigidly fixed. The diagnostic perspective assesses people via symptoms. That method is not incorrect as a part of the mental health system. However, there are innumerable perspectives that can coexist with it. As far as Japanese people are concerned, no judgment should be made without some consideration of the Shinto and Buddhist perspectives, because these are foundational to their philosophy and existence. The single-layered perspective of mental health was probably chosen unconsciously in an attempt to improve efficiency.
