Abstract
During the past few decades there has been an upsurge in neuroscience research. Unprecedented intellectual efforts and financial resources have been invested in order to unravel the conundrums of the brain and the mind. Some of these prestigious neuroscience projects have been motivated, at least in part, by the ambition to translate and harness the fruits of their studies for the benefit of patients who suffer from brain-related disorders. In comparison to the plethora of neuroscience research, qualitative research on psychiatric patients’ views pertaining to the clinical use of brain-related technologies is scarce. It is suggested that current predominant trends in psychiatry may explain the relative neglect of qualitative research pertaining to patients’ perspectives. Following the path of Karl Jaspers, who emphasized the central role of patients’ subjective experience in the understanding of psychopathology, it is argued that awareness of psychiatric patients’ subjective perspective is crucial for the appropriate clinical and ethical use of brain-related technologies.