Taking as its point of departure Bury’s (1982) concept chronic illness biographical disruption, this paper provides a critical assessment fortunes since that time. Having ‘rescued’ the from recent postmodern and disability critiques, series further reflections on strengths weaknesses, including notion ‘normal illness’; importance timing context; significance continuity well loss; role disruption itself in aetiology illness. This, turn, basis for broader set vicissitudes biographically...

Drawing on insights from both medical sociology and science technology studies this article provides a critical analysis of the nature status pharmaceuticalisation in terms following key dimensions dynamics: (i) redefinition or reconfiguration health 'problems' as having pharmaceutical solution; (ii) changing forms governance; (iii) mediation; (iv) creation new techno-social identities mobilisation patient consumer groups around drugs; (v) use drugs for non-medical purposes markets; and,...

Abstract What is the relationship between class, health and life‐styles, to what extent does health‐related knowledge influence subsequent behaviour? These issues have been a source of considerable debate for medical sociologists others concerned with promoting ‘healthier’ life‐styles over years. Yet despite wealth empirical material, there has little attempt theorise this lifestyles associated structure agency, accounts action it raises. This paper attempts rectify lacuna through critical...

Taking as its point of departure the contested nature body, in mainstream theory and sociology health illness alike, this paper seeks, albeit tentatively, to chart a critical realist alternative these debates using controversial terrain chronic disability case study. A approach, it is suggested, enables us to: (i) bring biological impaired or otherwise, ‘back in’; (ii) relate individual society challenging, non‐conflationary non ‘uni‐directional’ way; (iii) rethink questions identity,...

This article explores the characteristics of a newly emergent 'neuroculture' and its relationship to cultures ageing; in particular, social meanings associated with 'active ageing' 'cognitive health' discourses sciences around memory 'ageing brain'. The argument proposes critical perspective on this by looking at shifting boundaries between standards normality abnormality, values health illness, practices therapy enhancement, lines demarcating Third Age (healthy, active agentic) Fourth...

This paper takes a critical look at progress and prospects regarding the sociology of pharmaceuticals over years. Key themes examined include: (i) medicalisation pharmaceuticalisation; (ii) regulation; (iii) consumption consumerism; (iv) expectations innovation. Papers in monograph are also introduced discussed relation to these themes. The concludes with some further comments reflections on this field, emphasising continuing importance sociological engagement personal political issues...

This paper examines the social construction of new wakefulness-promoting drug Modafinil (brand name Provigil) in British press. Key themes this newspaper coverage include potential 'uses' and 'abuses' relation to: (i) medical conditions; (ii) lifestyle choices; (iii) military operations; (iv) sporting competition. The press, we show, play a dual role reporting on these trends developments: one hand constructing as something 'wonder drug' to treatment number complaints or conditions, other...

AbstractTo date, sociology of health and medicine has engaged in only a limited way debates about cognitive enhancement drugs how they might affect or change the we live our lives. In this review explore implications development such drugs, both now future, with particular reference to changing drivers dynamics medicalisation biomedicalisation over time. Whilst concepts shed important light on these developments, pharmaceuticalisation provides more precise sociological term suggest for...

This article takes the neglected sociological issue of sleep, and applies potential insights contained therein to matters health medicalization society. Biological associated factors concerning sleep are first considered, before reflecting more generally on significance within ‘dormant’ Key issues here include: (i) body techniques ‘doing’ rest; (ii) temporal dimensions sleep; (iii) ‘civilizing’ across public/private divide; (iv) social patterning role sleeper; (v) commercial activities...

Taking as its point of departure the problematic distinction between illness ‘deviance’ and health ‘conformity’, this article ventures an alternative notion which oscillates precariously bodily discipline corporeal transgression; modalities both reflect reproduce fundamental tensions contradictions in Western culture. Underlying is a ‘recalcitrant’ body; one which, (un) containable entity any domain or discourse, demands cultural ‘limits’ points ‘transgression’. Drawing upon recent...