What We Fear Most: A Psychiatrist’s Journey to the Heart of Madness / BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week

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Dr Ben Cave

What We Fear Most

A Psychiatrist’s Journey to the Heart of Madness / BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week

Dr Ben Cave

$49.99

Hardback

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QTY:

English

Seven Dials
11 October 2022

Autobiography: science, technology & engineering; True crime; Violence in society; Criminal or forensic psychology; Popular psychology

LONGLISTED FOR THE CWA'S ALCS GOLD DAGGER FOR NON-FICTION AWARD

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'Poignant, funny, engrossing' - Jo Brand

'A sensitive and immersive voyage through the career of a forensic psychiatrist' - Kerry Daynes

'a beautifully balanced and compassionately written memoir... This is a fascinating account of a fascinating journey' - Dr Richard Shepherd

Meet Dr Ben Cave. For over thirty years he has worked in prisons and secure hospitals diagnosing and treating some of the most troubled men and women in society. A lifetime of care takes us from delusional disorders to schizophrenia, steroid abuse to drug dependency, personality disorders to paedophilia, and depression so severe a mother can kill her own baby.

These are the human stories behind the headlines. The reality of a life spent working with patients with the severest mental health disorders. The tragic and often frightening truth about what happens behind closed doors.

Dr Ben Cave takes us on a journey to the heart of this highly emotive environment, putting himself under the microscope as well as his patients. In the process, he allows us to share what they have taught each other, and how it has changed them. To share the psychological battle scars that come with a career on the frontline of our health service. To learn about the brilliant mental health nurses for whom physical injury and verbal abuse are a daily hazard. To learn about ourselves, and what we fear most.

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Thoughtful, revealing, often haunting and always enlightening, if you liked Unnatural Causes by Dr Richard Shepherd, Do No Harm by Henry Marsh and This is Going to Hurt by Adam Kay this book is for you.

By: Dr Ben Cave
Imprint: Seven Dials
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 216mm, Width: 134mm, Spine: 28mm
Weight: 573g
ISBN: 9781841885544
ISBN 10: 1841885541
Pages: 368
Publication Date: 11 October 2022
Audience: General/trade , College/higher education , Professional and scholarly , ELT Advanced , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

Dr Ben Cave is the pen name of a practising general and forensic psychiatrist, also a specialist in substance misuse, medico-legal expert and a member of the judiciary. Over a career spanning almost 35 years, he has worked as a prison psychiatrist, community psychiatrist and as a consultant in medium-, low-secure and general mental health units. He has dealt with the whole range of psychiatric conditions, from personality disorders and schizophrenia to addictions, and continues to make challenging judgment calls on when patients are no longer a risk to themselves or others and can be released back into the community. This is Dr Ben's first book.

Reviews for What We Fear Most: A Psychiatrist’s Journey to the Heart of Madness / BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week

'a sensitive and immersive voyage through the career of a forensic psychiatrist... This book is a beautifully written invitation to the reader to glimpse into Cave's often painful, but ultimately uplifting journey.' - Kerry Daynes, The Sunday Times Bestselling author of The Dark Side of the Mind & What Lies Buried 'delightfully entertaining, witty, surprising, horrifying, and harrowing - all part of life in forensic mental health services' - Professor Kamaldeep Bhui 'The expert knowledge contained in this book will help us all gain a crucial understanding of the complex issue of mental health.' - Jonathan Agnew 'the most mesmerising, haunting and seductive book I have read in years... I have no doubt it will take it's place atop the new wave of literary, medical professionals.' - Amol Rajan 'Dr Cave skilfully weaves the lives of some of the most disturbed and violent patients with his own personal conflicts to create a powerful tapestry, sharing both tender moments and shocking scenes. He reveals with candour and humour the poignant reality of challenging mental disorders working in an often-hidden world - a compelling insight into the tragic and at times frightening truth about what happens behind locked doors.' - Marjorie Wallace CBE, Founder and Chief Executive of SANE