Main description:

There is growing recognition of the value dimension in psychiatric practice, from the contributions of positive psychology, of documenting the role of virtues in human flourishing and in the medical practice. However, the place of virtues in psychiatric treatment remains largely unexplored. How does a need for virtues fit into the processes of diagnosis, formulation, and treatment? What patient problems and factors should influence the therapist to promote
forgiveness, gratitude, humility, or accountability? What is the relationship between the therapist's and the patient's virtues? What is the relevance of religious or spiritual resources to the formation of virtue? How does the cultivation of a particular virtue relate to psychodynamic, behavioral,
existential, or spiritual approaches? What ethical questions does it raise, and what are its implications for psychiatric education?

The Virtues in Psychiatric Practice explores the role of the virtues in promoting human flourishing within the context of psychiatric practice. Chapters uses case examples to consider the incentives of fostering particular virtues; the place of this approach among psychodynamic, behavioral, existential, or spiritual approaches; and the relationship between the therapist's and the patient's values. Virtues highlighted include forgiveness, gratitude, accountability, self-transcendence,
defiance, humility, compassion, love, and practical wisdom. This discussion is organized according to four basic capacities relevant to moral enhancement - self-control, niceness, intelligence, and positivity - which correspond to the four cardinal virtues according to Plato and Aquinas - temperance, justice,
prudence, and courage.

Edited by psychiatrist and scholar John R. Peteet and written for psychiatrists, psychologists, and medical ethicists, this book will connect recent scientific research on virtue with clinical practice. It therefore aims to give readers a fuller appreciation of the importance of virtue in the therapeutic encounter, a clearer understanding of clinical indications for focusing on particular virtues, and enhanced practical ways of promoting human growth.

Contents:

Preface
Introduction: Historical and Clinical Context
John R. Peteet
Part I: Virtues of Self-control
Chapter 1: Accountability
Charlotte Witvliet and John R. Peteet
Chapter 2: Humility
Nicholas D. Covaleski
Chapter 3: Equanimity
Michael R. Tom and David R. Vago
Part II: Virtues of Benevolence
Chapter 4: Forgiveness
Everett L. Worthington and John R. Peteet
Chapter 5: Compassion
Paul Gilbert
Chapter 6: Love
John R. Peteet
Part III: Virtues of Positivity
Chapter 7: Defiance
Nancy Nyquist Potter
Chapter 8: Phronesis (Practical Wisdom)
Jerome Kroll and Perry C. Mason
Chapter 9: Gratitude
Lilian Jans-Beken
Chapter 10: Self-Transcendence
C. Robert Cloninger and Kevin M. Cloninger
Chapter 11: Hope (Optimism, Resilience)
Warren Kinghorn
Future Directions
Chapter 12: The Science of Human Flourishing
Tyler J. VanderWeele