Power to the patients! Newscientist.com

[Ivan Seeking]

Now he thinks diagnostic labels have no more predictive power than star signs and that plenty of people can live happily with severe psychotic symptoms

http://www.newscientist.com/opinion/opinterview.jsp;jsessionid=LGBDCGDLPIAE?id=ns24101

[zoobyshoe]

This is an excellent article. I
hope Zantra sees this.

The trouble with the psychiatric
labels has always been that none
is based on any objectively ob-
served brain pathology. The term
"schizophrenia" is a grab bag. It
is variously attrbuted to enlarged
ventricles in the brain, viral
brain infections, food sensitivi-
ties, genetic disorders, etc.

Paranoid delusions, likewise, are
found in schizophrenia, bipolar
disorder, paranoid personality
disorder, borderline personality
disorder, and major depression with psychotic features. No one
has determined the exact cause
of this brain malfunction and
worked on a cure or treatment.

His emphasis on enviromental
contributions is right on. What
might continue indefinitely as
a mild case can easily be turned
into a severe case in a stressfull
environment.

His experience with "a taste of
his own medicine" was great. I
think all Doctors benefit greatly
from periods when they are forced
to be patients.

Zoobyshoe