Posted by mindevolution on January 25, 2007, at 0:44:49 [reposted on January 26, 2007, at 23:07:03 | original URL]
In reply to Re: Does Mental Illness Exist? Feedback Requested!, posted by hgi698 on January 24, 2007, at 21:49:58
> We know as much about the brain as any other organ.
that's called neuroscience and has nothing to do with mental illness. why don't neurologists or endocrinologists treat mental illness? ;)
> So it is false to say that mental illness is somehow less defined than anything else.
not only is mental illness less defined, by definition it is not defined at all. ;) of all the hundreds of mental illnesses in the dsmv, we do not know the aetiology of any of them.
>Most things we think we know are only a small part of the story. Even a "real" disease like AIDS still hasn't been figured out.
The majority of “real”diseases have their aetiology defined.
>My second point is that humans have been using drugs to achieve more desirable states of mind for 1000's of years. If you want to win an argument with one of these anti-psychitry people all you have to do is point out that 90% of americans consume caffeine in some form everyday. Caffeine is a psychoactive chemical (adenosine antagonist) that effects neurotransmitters like dopamine. Others smoke, others drink alcohol and others load up on eating carbohydrates (which increase serotonin).
I have never heard an antipsychiatrist protest about the consumption of caffeine or alcohol.
Hypothetically speaking, what happens if you are in a custody battle for your kids and your wife lies and checks you into the hospital against your will saying you have been hallucinating, delusional and aggressive, although you have been impeccably behaved. You are diagnosed psychotic and held and treated against your will indefinitely on the basis of your wifes verbal evidence which does not have to be substantiated. What do you do in such a situation?
poster:mindevolution
thread:726938
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20061123/msgs/726941.html