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The Divided Mind: Uncovering psychiatry's dark past - and reimagining its future
A new way of thinking about mental health.
For centuries, mental and physical health have been divided and disorders of the mind and body have been treated as if they were poles apart. This deep-rooted division has shaped medicine, psychiatry, and society. But what if this mind/body split is not only outdated – but dangerously misleading?
In this groundbreaking follow-up to his bestselling The Inflamed Mind, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Edward Bullmore challenges one of medicine’s most enduring assumptions.
Through the lens of schizophrenia – perhaps the most misunderstood of all psychiatric disorders – Bullmore explores what he calls “the original schism” and the under-examined history of psychiatry itself.
Taking readers on a gripping journey through the evolving science of schizophrenia, illuminated by his personal experiences as a researcher and clinician, Bullmore lifts the lid on psychiatry’s dark past. He highlights how the horror of the Nazi eugenics programme magnified a split between brain and mind theories which persists to this day. And he expertly introduces some of the new science that is building the case for a radical rethink of how we understand – and treat – so-called mental illness in the 21st century.
The Divided Mind shows us why and how we can now change our minds about the origins of one of the most mysterious and stigmatised disorders in medicine. It challenges us all to escape from our history to a more joined-up future for mental and physical health.
For centuries, mental and physical health have been divided and disorders of the mind and body have been treated as if they were poles apart. This deep-rooted division has shaped medicine, psychiatry, and society. But what if this mind/body split is not only outdated – but dangerously misleading?
In this groundbreaking follow-up to his bestselling The Inflamed Mind, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Edward Bullmore challenges one of medicine’s most enduring assumptions.
Through the lens of schizophrenia – perhaps the most misunderstood of all psychiatric disorders – Bullmore explores what he calls “the original schism” and the under-examined history of psychiatry itself.
Taking readers on a gripping journey through the evolving science of schizophrenia, illuminated by his personal experiences as a researcher and clinician, Bullmore lifts the lid on psychiatry’s dark past. He highlights how the horror of the Nazi eugenics programme magnified a split between brain and mind theories which persists to this day. And he expertly introduces some of the new science that is building the case for a radical rethink of how we understand – and treat – so-called mental illness in the 21st century.
The Divided Mind shows us why and how we can now change our minds about the origins of one of the most mysterious and stigmatised disorders in medicine. It challenges us all to escape from our history to a more joined-up future for mental and physical health.
- GenresNonfictionPsychiatry
320 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 28, 2026
This initially felt like it was going to trek the age old path of nature/nurture debate in mental illness, however it turned out to be much more nuanced. The author thoughtfully explores the history of schizophrenia and its future directions. A very interesting read.
June 18, 2026
Listened as an audiobook
Giving this 3.5 stars (rounded up) because it was full of very useful information but was unfortunately a bit dense which made it quite dry to get through.
The book starts by focusing on Mindless vs Brainless theories, discussing Descartes Mind/body dualism, typical debates in the field of neuroscience/psych on the origins and causes of mental illness and, as you’d expect, it discusses Kraepelin and dementia praecox and Freud’s psychoanalysis. It also covers the split between treatment of physical health conditions and mental health conditions in our hospitals today.
The discussion on searching for a 'black sheep' that disproves a research question instead of simply looking to confirm your previous findings was really thought provoking. I also always appreciate psychiatrists who don't shy away from the eugenic history that lurks in the background of mental health care - Bullmore specifically calls out the old 'we don't mention the war' attitude held by predecessors.
There is a rather long chapter on Fractals which did lose me somewhat. I sort of understood the network hubs/airports analogy but I’m not fully confident I grasped the point the author was making.
The book also talks about genetic markers for Schizophrenia and how there is no single gene. I liked the inclusion of Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments and the subsequent impact his studies had after his death. Unfortunately it gets a little technical there after, discussing G x E interactions, gene expression, synaptic pruning, myelination etc - my brain started to hurt!
I feel like this book has a lot to offer and includes lots of fascinating stories and facts but where it delves a little too deeply into niche academic theories, it started to lose me.
Giving this 3.5 stars (rounded up) because it was full of very useful information but was unfortunately a bit dense which made it quite dry to get through.
The book starts by focusing on Mindless vs Brainless theories, discussing Descartes Mind/body dualism, typical debates in the field of neuroscience/psych on the origins and causes of mental illness and, as you’d expect, it discusses Kraepelin and dementia praecox and Freud’s psychoanalysis. It also covers the split between treatment of physical health conditions and mental health conditions in our hospitals today.
The discussion on searching for a 'black sheep' that disproves a research question instead of simply looking to confirm your previous findings was really thought provoking. I also always appreciate psychiatrists who don't shy away from the eugenic history that lurks in the background of mental health care - Bullmore specifically calls out the old 'we don't mention the war' attitude held by predecessors.
There is a rather long chapter on Fractals which did lose me somewhat. I sort of understood the network hubs/airports analogy but I’m not fully confident I grasped the point the author was making.
The book also talks about genetic markers for Schizophrenia and how there is no single gene. I liked the inclusion of Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments and the subsequent impact his studies had after his death. Unfortunately it gets a little technical there after, discussing G x E interactions, gene expression, synaptic pruning, myelination etc - my brain started to hurt!
I feel like this book has a lot to offer and includes lots of fascinating stories and facts but where it delves a little too deeply into niche academic theories, it started to lose me.
January 11, 2026
4.75⭐️
Interesting overview of mental illness, mainly focusing on schizophrenia
Interesting overview of mental illness, mainly focusing on schizophrenia
January 15, 2026
excellent. Well written and gives a very clear insight in the mind/brain divide.
How diagnostics changed over the years from leaning towards mind and/or brain to a combination of the two
How diagnostics changed over the years from leaning towards mind and/or brain to a combination of the two
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews