How is mad studies different from anti-psychiatry and critical psychiatry?

Abstract

This chapter discusses the differences between anti-psychiatry, critical psychiatry and mad studies by describing the distinctions behind each of these approaches and the extent to which knowledge has been reclaimed that was more often about rather than by mad people. When distinguishing between anti-psychiatry, critical psychiatry and mad studies, it is important to note that these areas are significantly diverse within their own schools of thought. There are, nevertheless, a set of beliefs that do underline what it means to identify as belonging to one, or more, of these critical perspectives. This chapter will argue that, given its origins among mad people, mad studies has the potential to be more relevant than anti-psychiatry and critical psychiatry, both of which originated outside of the mad community.