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What can the science of well-being tell the discipline ofpsychiatry – and why might psychiatry listen?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

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Abstract

There is a field of knowledge that speaks of the promotion of positivemental health, well-being and happiness yet it may not be well-known to allpsychiatric practitioners. Economists, geneticists, positive psychologists,evolutionary psychologists, neuroscientists and sociocultural researchershave all contributed to what might be termed the emerging science ofwell-being. This article provides a brief introduction to this complextopic. We outline some of the findings, theories and arguments from thiscomparatively new but burgeoning research area. We also rehearse somecritical responses to this field which indicate that both the evidence onwell-being and the implications for practice and policy might be lessstraightforward than researchers sometimes imply. We conclude by suggestingthat psychiatrists, as leaders in the field of mental health, might want toconsider the implications (positive and negative) of well-being research forthe development of their own discipline and professional practice.

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Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 2008 
Figure 0

Table 1 Happiness rankings: the top ten countries according to two different sources

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