Introduction

This part introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters. The part provides material on several aspects of the psychiatric profession. Mental health providers excelled in obtaining training and research funds, which allowed for an increase in the number of providers who could survive. Psychiatry eschewed certain sociomedical problems that it might have properly addressed — alcoholism and sex therapy. The part examines psychiatric testimony in court concerning the potential dangerousness of felony defendants considered incompetent to stand trial. It shows that the best prediction of dangerousness is the defendant’s current charge, yet this data is not given priority. Psychiatrists may take this factor into account, but they nevertheless provide psychiatric rationales to justify public and legal belief in psychiatrists’ expertise. Psychiatry, and to a lesser degree clinical psychology and psychiatric social work, have attained much expanded status and power as professional groups.