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Does psychiatry have a financial interest in expanding the definition of mental illness?
Does both the pharmaceutical industry and the psychiatry profession have strong financial interests in convincing the public that drug treatment is safe and the most effective treatment for mental illness,
The National Institute of Mental Illness reports that currently only 36 percent of those who suffer from mental illness actually seek and receive treatment but they would still like to expand the definitions. What and why should be a concern to everyone.
There is no question that among the medical profession, psychiatry is the most scientifically primitive. The latest revision to the America Psychiastric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) has drawn strong criticism. "Owing to criticism over the perceived proliferation of diagnoses in the current edition of the DSM, David Kupfer, M.D., who is the DSM-5 Task Force chair and is shepherding the DSM's revision, said in an interview: "One of the raps against psychiatry is that you and I are the only two people in the U.S. without a psychiatric diagnosis."
Dr. Daniel Carlet, an Associate Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Tufts University admits, "We are no more than the most rudimentary understanding of the pathophysiology of mental illness and we have resorted to tenuous and ever-shifting theories of how ..treatments work."
Read "The Emperor's New Drugs" by Dr. Irving Kirsch or "The Anatomy of an Epidemic" by Robert Whitaker.
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Gail . 50+
On April 24, 1984 (at age 34) my worldview CRASHED. In the twinkling of an eye, I suddenly understood that truth, justice, equality, and freedom were not what I thought that they were. Immediately after that awareness, I understood that I might also have been lied to about God, Satan, and then about who and what I am and the rest of how life works. It was a devastating time.
As I began the arduous job of creating a new worldview - fact-based this time so that it couldn't be threatened by untruths - my world began to change. I came to understand that thoughts and emotions were not what I thought they were, and as I learned about my internal processes, I began to walk in a world of peace, joy, and harmony.
As a result of my expeerience, I believe that psychiatry today is facing the same type of connundrums as quantum physicists and economists face. Ideas that we fiercely cling to are irrational. Our definition of logic is not logical.
When my schizophrenic brother tells me of the things his voice tells him (when unmedicated), my insides jump with joy in understanding. But he cowers in fear. I am left to wonder if schizophrenia was his coping method as he realized that the world he lived in was a rather insane one.
It is my studied opinion that our economic system is the most disastrous thing to hit humankind. When profits are more important than humans, humans are mere pawns of a "system" that strips them of dignity. But the siren call of money is much more appealing than the still silent voice of sanity.
This was the best I could do in 2k characters.
Theodore A. Hoppe 200+
My own views on psychology and how we can maintain our mental wellness is to be more compassionate and empathic in our relationships. It is tied to our sense of trust and belongingness with others. You write, " I came to understand that thoughts and emotions were not what I thought they were," and this is the big secret. Your family members and indeed, everyone in your life, will greatly benefit from what you have learned, and your willingness to share your experience in ways they can understand.
pat gilbert 100+
The economic system has nothing to with mental health there is no correlation that would stand up to a modicum of scrutiny.
I have seen a similar situation with some of my relatives a family with 3 sons. They have all grown up to be dysfunctional and all are on some sort psychological assistance and medication for many years and are all still dysfunctional.
Using a modicum of logic regarding this situation what did the three sons have in common? They were all raised by an alcoholic father. That is a correlation, you see people don't get crazy by themselves they get helped by a genuinely crazy person. This is the core problem with most "crazy people".
People often reject this idea because well then what would the psychologists and pharmaceutical companies do for a living. The other problem is they are looking in the wrong direction for answers they look inside, the answers lie outside, life lies outside.
John Smith 30+
Actually a more relaxed society would increase mental health. Most people have mental problems because of circumstances that have to do with the way society is run, not because they were molested or have some huge genetic defect.
@Pat Gilbert below
So you think a society with a workweek of 100 hours and no social security won't see a much higher level of mental illness than one with a workweek of 35 hours and ample social security?
pat gilbert 100+
Robert Winner 50+
Now I give a opinion. The doctors and the government make it way to easy to give up. I have a friend with one arm. Handicaped .. hell no. Sometimes it is a little inconvient but he gets there. Coddle him hell no he one of the strongest people I know.
"How society is run" is the problem ... bull. It is all about getting back into the game. We have become a generation of pill taking, excuse making, wooses. It is not someone elses fault ... it is your decision ... society was cruel to me .. so what go out and kick societys butt.
Pills are not the answer. For me .... adjust, adapt, and overcome.
Bob
pat gilbert 100+
I would contend that a child has very few bench marks to navigate life's confusions. True north for a child is their parents. When the parent is bad that child is effected for a long time. That child likely will not even think about goals. Everyone is different but this is not a small thing.
Robert Winner 50+
The parents are certainly the biggest impactors.
Thanks for the gentle nudge back to your original thought.
Bob
pat gilbert 100+
But in no circumstances do I think psychiatric drugs are the solution. Many anecdotal stories will state how wonderful the psychiatric drugs are but I liken them to taking heroin in other words " I feel a lot better when I'm on heroin".
My anecdotal story is when I was a kid the school counselor sent me to the school Psych who determined that I had "learning disabilities" and prescribed Ritalin. The result was at 12 I slept about 4 hr a night and ate maybe one meal a day. I have to admit that I was able to concentrate better but at what cost? either way as with Heroin Ritalin only masked the real problem.