The book explores the transformation of psychiatric patient histories, tracing their journey from the asylum era to modern clinical practices. It delves into how case history narratives have influenced the development of psychiatry as a medical field, highlighting their significance in understanding patient experiences and informing treatment approaches. Through this examination, the text sheds light on the historical and contemporary importance of effective communication in psychiatric care.
This volume presents the latest research of an international group of scholars, engaged in the analysis of academic discourse from a genre-oriented perspective. The area covered by this volume is a central one, as in the last few years important developments in research on academic discourse have not only concerned the more traditional genres, but, as well, generic innovations promoted by the new technologies, employed both in the presentation of research results and in their dissemination to a wider community by means of popularising and teaching activities. These innovations have not only favoured important changes in existing genres and the creation of new ones to meet emerging needs of the academic community, but have also promoted a serious discussion about the construct of genre itself. The various investigations gathered in this volume provide several examples of the complexity and flexibility of genres, which have shown to be subject to a continuous tension between stability and change as well as between convention and innovation.