Psychiatrists' assessments of mental illness. A comparison of some aspects of Thomas Scheff's approach to labelling theory.

The labelling theory of mental illness and particularly that version formulated by Thomas Scheff has been applied to psychiatry. Studies completed by Scheff have produced considerable evidence to support labelling theory. An attempt is made here to determine to what extent labelling theory applies to a group of British psychiatrists. The results give little support to Scheff's position.