The 4th edition of this firmly established text gives a comprehensive introduction to the sociology of health, illness and health policy. Presents the principles of medical sociology and emphasizes practical issues. The text is concise, and designed in two colors with highlight boxes for easy use.

Over the past half-century, the social terrain of health and illness has been transformed. What were once considered normal human events and common human problems—birth, aging, menopause, alcoholism, and obesity—are now viewed as medical conditions. For better or worse, medicine increasingly permeates aspects of daily life. Building on more than three decades of research, Peter Conrad explores the changing forces behind this trend with case studies of short stature, social anxiety, "male menopause," erectile dysfunction, adult ADHD, and sexual orientation. He examines the emergence of and changes in medicalization, the consequences of the expanding medical domain, and the implications for health and society. He finds in recent developments—such as the growing number of possible diagnoses and biomedical enhancements—the future direction of medicalization. Conrad contends that the impact of medical professionals on medicalization has diminished. Instead, the pharmaceutical and biotechnical industries, insurance companies and HMOs, and the patient as consumer have become the major forces promoting medicalization. This thought-provoking study offers valuable insight into not only how medicalization got to this point but also how it may continue to evolve.

This title provides a systematic and accessible introduction to medical sociology, beginning each 1500 word entry with a definition of the concept, then examines its origins, development, strengths and weaknesses, offering further reading guidance for independent learning, and drawing on international literature and examples.

A new edition of a seminal textbook that offers an up-to-date, concise and theoretically and empirically informed introduction to the core issues in the sociology of health and health care. It includes updated chapters on established themes of social aspects of health, disease and medical practice, social structures and the organisation of health services, as well as brand new chapters on contemporary topics such as globalisation, the sociology of the body and digital technologies. As proven by previous editions, this text has special salience for students of medicine and allied health programmes. Moreover, with increased attention to international perspectives and examples and an accessible writing style, it remains an ideal choice for undergraduate and postgraduate health modules on sociology courses across the world. New to this Edition: - Increased emphasis on global perspectives and international examples - All existing chapters thoroughly updated - New chapters on globalisation and health, re-conceptualising bodies and digital health and health care ensure that the book takes the latest developments in the discipline into account

This book reflects on how our understanding and experience of health at later ages in particular can impact on social and technological developments.

Sharp, bold and engaging, this book provides a contemporary account of why medical sociology matters in our modern society. Combining theoretical and empirical perspectives, and applying the pragmatic demands of policy, this timely book explores society′s response to key issues such as race, gender and identity to explain the relationship between sociology, medicine and medical sociology. Each chapter includes an authoritative introduction to pertinent areas of debate, a clear summary of key issues and themes and dedicated bibliography. Chapters include: • social theory and medical sociology • health inequalities • bodies, pain and suffering • personal, local and global. Brimming with fresh interpretations and critical insights this book will contribute to illuminating the practical realities of medical sociology. This exciting text will be of interest to students of sociology of health and illness, medical sociology, and sociology of the body. Hannah Bradby has a visiting fellowship at the Department of Primary Care and Health Sciences, King′s College London. She is monograph series editor for the journal Sociology of Health and Illness and co-edits the multi-disciplinary journal Ethnicity and Health.

This textbook in the Illustrated Colour Text series offers an integrated treatment of sociology and psychology for medical students. It is presented in a much more colourful and graphic format than is usual for books on these two subjects. This integration reflects the tendency to teach these two subjects together as “behavioural science , with an increased stress on the place of medicine in society, and on illness as a product of psychological and social circumstances rather than merely a biological phenomenon. The book reflects these trends and has been successful and popular with students. An integrated treatment of psychology and sociology for medical students - in line with the trend towards teaching these subjects as “behavioural sciences“. Use of case studies and Stop/Think boxes encourages critical thinking and discussion. Graphic Illustrated Colour Text presentation style enlivens a subject which most medical students are not keen on. This third edition contains a new introduction on the importance and key features of the biopsychosocial model and additional double-page spreads on International Health and Rural Health.