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By John Swinton.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
£15.95
ISBN 1 85302 804 5

Spirituality is a slippery concept. Yoking it to mental health care might, at first, seem even more obscure and a far cry from the daily preoccupations of psychiatric services. But Swinton makes two cogent arguments that underpin this book. First, that while organised religions may be declining, the search for hope, meaning, purpose and the transcendental remains undiminished. Second, while new admissions to psychiatric units may be asked to give their religion, what it means to them is unlikely to be explored.

For many psychiatrists, the concept of spirituality is unacceptable because it remains impervious to any measurement. Evoking the writing of "anti-psychiatrists" Laing and Cooper, Swinton devotes a chapter to depression, which he defines as a "profoundly spiritual experience". There is a helpful review of the literature that has explored the interface between mental health and spirituality, and some useful case studies examining the links more closely. What is not considered are those situations where mental illness reflects itself in an over-preoccupation with the religious.

This is a provocative book and of interest to all those who feel that "disease" is helped by more than psychotropic drugs.

Chris Hanvey is director of operations at Barnardo's and an approved social worker.