Skip to main content
Log in

Connecting Theory to Practice: Karl Barth, Capability Theory and Psychiatric Social Work

  • Published:
Pastoral Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper explores linkages between theory and practice in psychiatric social work, specifically between Karl Barth’s theology of social justice, Martha Nussbaum’s capability theory, and an innovative component in psychiatric services called the decision support center. The decision support center is itself a multi-component system that not only aims at improving and enhancing psychiatric medication consultations, but, in so doing, also serves broader sociopolitical ends. Four congruent themes in Barth’s and Nussbaum’s theories are discussed and applied.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anand, P. (2005). Capabilities and health. Journal of Medical Ethics, 31, 299–303.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Barth, K. (1911). Jesus Christ and the movement for social justice. In Green (Ed.), Karl Barth: Theologian of freedom (p. 99). Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barth, K. (1946). The Christian community and the civil community. In Green (Ed.), Karl Barth: Theologian of freedom. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barth, K. (1955). Church dogmatics IV.1. In Green (Ed.), Karl Barth: Theologian of freedom. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barth, K. (1958). Church dogmatics IV.2: The doctrine of reconciliation. New York: T & T Clark International.

    Google Scholar 

  • Busch, E. (2004). The great passion: An introduction to Karl Barth’s theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdman’s Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly, R. (2006). Prison mental health crisis continues to grow. Psychiatric News, 41, 1–2.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deegan, P. (2010). A web application to support recovery and shared decision making in psychiatric clinics. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal, 34, 23–28.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deegan, P., et al. (2008). A program to support shared decision making in an outpatient psychiatric clinic. Psychiatric Services, 59, 603–605.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deschner, J. (1972). Karl Barth as political activist. Union Seminary Quarterly Review, 28, 53–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J. (1992). We have been believers: An African-American systematic theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Florian, L. (2008). How can capability theory contribute to understanding provision for people with learning difficulties? Prospero, 14, 24–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gollwitzer, H. (1961). Karl Barth: Church dogmatics: A selection with introduction. Louisville: John Knox Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gollwitzer, H. (1976). Kingdom of God and socialism in the theology of Karl Barth. Karl Barth and Radical Politics, 1, 77–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, C. (Ed.). (1989). Karl Barth: Theologian of freedom. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnstone, J. (2007). Technology as empowerment: a capability approach to computer ethics. Ethics and Information Technology, 9, 73–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NASW (2011). http://www.socialworkers.org/pubs/code/default.asp. Retrieved on 8/1/2011.

  • Nussbaum, M. (2000). Women and human development. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • RachBiesel, J., et al. (1999). Co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorders: a review of recent research. Psychiatric Services, 50, 1427–1434.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rapp, C., & Goscha, R. (2006). The strengths model: Case management with people with psychiatric disabilities (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ware, N., et al. (2008). A theory of social integration as quality of life. Psychiatric Services, 59, 27–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zygmunt, A. (2002). Interventions to improve medication adherence in schizophrenia. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 159, 1653–1664.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to John B. Thompson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Thompson, J.B. Connecting Theory to Practice: Karl Barth, Capability Theory and Psychiatric Social Work. Pastoral Psychol 62, 219–234 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-012-0463-y

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-012-0463-y

Keywords

Navigation