Language, games and the role of interpreters in psychiatric diagnosis: A Wittgensteinian thought experiment

Medical Humanities

Volumn 35, Issue 1, 2009, Pages 13-18

  Thomas, P ^a   Shah, A ^a   Thornton, T ^a  

^a UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL LANCASHIRE   (United Kingdom)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 67650021221     PISSN: 1468215X     EISSN: 14734265     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1136/jmh.2008.000422     Document Type: Article

References (35)

1. Office for National Statistics. Focus on people & migration. Office for National Statistics, 2004. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2004/migration.pdf (accessed 22 Jan 2009).
2. Baker P, Eversley J, eds. Multilingual capital. London: Battlebridge, 2000.
3. Greater London Authority. A profile of Londoners by language: an analysis of Labour Force Survey data on first language. Data Management and Analysis Group. DMAG Briefing 2006/26. London: GLA, 2006. http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/publications/factsandfigures/dmag-briefing-2006-26.pdf (accessed 22 Jan 2009).
4. NIMHE. Inside outside: improving mental health services for black and minority ethnic communities in England. London: National Institute for Mental Health in England, 2003.
5. Department of Health. Delivering race equality in mental health care: an action plan for reform inside and outside services. London: The Stationery Office, 2005.
6. Shah AK. Difficulties in interviewing elderly people from an Asian ethnic group. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 1992;7:917.
7. Jones D, Gill P. Breaking down language barriers. The NHS needs to provide accessible interpreting services for all. BMJ 1998;316:1476.
8. Shah AK. Difficulties experienced by a Gujarati psychiatrist in interviewing elderly Gujaratis in Gujarati. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 1999;14:1072-4.
9. Barker J. Research perspectives on ageing: black and Asian old people in Britain. London: Age Concern Research Unit, 1984
10. Manthorpe J, Hettiaratchy P. Ethnic minority elders in Britain. Int Rev Psychiatry 1993;5:173-80.
11. Lindesay J, Jagger C, Hibbert MJ, et al. Knowledge, uptake and availability of health and social services among Asian Gujarati and white elders. Ethn Health 1997;2:59-69.
12. Department of Health. Positive steps: supporting race equality in mental health care. London: The Stationery Office, 2007.
13. Phelan M, Parkman S. How to do it: work with an interpreter. BMJ 1995;311:555-7.
14. Department of Health. Guidance on developing local communication support services and strategies. London: DH, The Equality and Human Rights Group, 2004. http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4080098 (accessed 22 Jan 2009).
15. Shah AK. Interviewing mentally ill ethnic minority elders with interpreters. Aust J Ageing 1997;16:220-1.
16. Shah AK. Straight talk. overcoming language barriers in diagnosis. Geriatr Med 1997;27:45-6.
17. Bracken P, Thomas P. Postpsychiatry: mental health in a postmodern world. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005 (see especially Chapters 4 and 5, pp 103-62).
18. Chomsky N. Aspects of the theory of syntax. Cambridge, Mass: MIT, 1965.
19. Chomsky N. Cartesian linguistics: a chapter in the history of rationalist thought. New York: Harper and Row, 1966.
20. Wittgenstein L. Philosophical investigations 3rd edn. (Trans. G.E.M. Anscombe) Oxford: Blackwell, 1967.
21. Button G, Coulter J, Lee J, et al. Computers, minds and conduct. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1995.
22. Williams M. Wittgenstein, mind and meaning: toward a social conception of mind. New York: Routledge, 1999.
23. Kleinman A. Rethinking psychiatry: from cultural category to personal experience. New York: Free Press, 1991.
24. Lewis B. Prozac and the post-human politics of cyborgs. J Med Humanit 2003;24:49-63.
25. Taylor C. Sources of the self: the making of the modern identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1989.
26. Bracken P, Thomas P. Cognitive therapy, Cartesianism and the moral order. Eur J Psychother Couns Health 2000;2:325-44.
27. Currer C. Concepts of mental well-and ill-being: the case of Pathan mothers in Britan. In: Currer C, Stacey M, eds. Concepts of health, illness and disease: a comparative perspective. Leamington Spa: Berg, 1986.
28. Krause I. Sinking heart: a Punjabi communication of distress. Soc Sci Med 1989;29:563-7.
29. Fenton S, Sadiq-Sangster A. Culture, relativism and the expression of mental distress: South Asian women in Britain. Sociol Health Illn 1996;18:66-85.
30. Callan A, Littlewood R. Patient satisfaction: ethnic origin or explanatory model? Int J Soc Psychiatry 1998;44:1-11.
31. Thornton T, Shah A, Thomas P. Understanding, testimony and interpretation in psychiatric diagnosis. Med Health Care Philos 2008;12:49-55.
32. Greenhalgh T, Robb N, Scambler G. Communicative and strategic action in interpreted consultations in primary health care: a Habermasian perspective. Soc Sci Med 2006;63:1170-87.
33. Temple B. Crossed wires: interpreters, translators, and bilingual workers in cross-language research. Qual Health Res 2002;12:844-54.
34. Seebohm P, Henderson P, Munn-Giddings C, et al. Together we will change: community development, mental health and diversity. London: Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health, 2005.
35. Thomas P, Seebohm P, Henderson P, et al. Tackling Race inequalities: community development, mental health and diversity. J Public Ment Health 2006;5:13-19.