Relationship between psychiatry and politics

The introduction contains possible issues of the relationship between psychiatry as a profession and politics as a social phenomenon. First, the relationship between politics and the essence of mental disorder is analyzed, i.e. mental disorder is considered in the context of politics of family and governing social forces, primarily from the anti-psychiatric point of view. The article presents examples of the misuse of psychiatry by Nazism, Stalinism, and other political regimes in fighting their opponents. Examples are also offered of the abuse of psychiatry for nationalistic purposes in countries of former Yugoslavia. Certain aspects of the influence of current politics on psychiatry are also analyzed, particularly regarding the management of psychiatric institutions. Finally, the article indicates aspects of the connection between globalization as the world political trend and psychiatry as a profession in the international context.