August of 2010 NPR radio carried a story titled: "Is Emotional Pain Necessary?" citing a change in the rough draft of the upcoming American Psychiatric Association's new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM---specifically, removing a caution of diagnosing major depression for people who have just lost a loved one in what's called "bereavement exclusion."
The DSM has more diagnoses than it did years ago. It reminds me of the number of medical diagnoses that have also increased over the years. Recently I read an advertisement for a diagnosis I hadn't seen before: "shift work sleep disorder" along with the accompanying medicine that can be prescribed for it.
Here are some questions to consider:
Beth
The DSM has more diagnoses than it did years ago. It reminds me of the number of medical diagnoses that have also increased over the years. Recently I read an advertisement for a diagnosis I hadn't seen before: "shift work sleep disorder" along with the accompanying medicine that can be prescribed for it.
Here are some questions to consider:
- What is the line between what is a normal response to a situation and pathology? When it comes to grief work, I've had some people say they've felt pressured to "get over it" leaving them thinking there was something wrong with them and feeling defensive.
- What influence do drug companies have on "new" diagnoses? Here's what one doctor has to say. Were you aware pharmaceutical companies track the prescriptions you fill and the doctor who writes them? This information has been used in the past by these companies to reward doctors who prescribed their medications often.
- Where do you think the breakdown of medications people take ends up going? You might not like what you learn. The question is: what can we do about it?
Beth
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