The Complex Meaning of Mental Disorder

Dawson, John

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Cite this item: 2013, ‘The complex meaning of mental disorder’, J Dawson, in New Zealand’s Mental Health Act in Practice, J Dawson and K Gledhill eds, Victoria University Press, Wellington, 29-45.
Permanent link to OUR Archive version: http://hdl.handle.net/10523/8952
Abstract:
The Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act 1992 (MHA) (NZ) provides the legal criteria governing compulsory psychiatric treatment in New Zealand. This article considers the structure and meaning of the definition of ‘mental disorder’ used in this MHA, and the interpretive strategies adopted by courts and the Mental Health Review Tribunal when applying it in hard cases. The author concludes that the contested meaning of ‘mental disorder’ shows the need to take a dynamic and flexible approach to its interpretation.
Date: 2013
Editor: Dawson, John; Gledhill, K
Publisher: Victoria University Press
Pages: 29-45
Keywords: Mental health; Psychiatric treatment; New Zealand; Health law
Research Type: Chapter in Book
Languages: English

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