Posted by Eddie Sylvano on September 30, 2002, at 11:02:02
In reply to Psychiatry vs. Neurology and a daunting question.., posted by JLM on September 30, 2002, at 5:36:13
> My question is this thou. Neurologists treat organic disorders of the brain and brain dysfunctions. If mood disorders and mental illness are truly caused by organic brain disorders, what is the need for psychiatry at all, when the practice of neurology allready exists?
---------------------------I think it's unproductive to compare disorders of the brain (beyond gross disorders such as stroke) to disorders of other organs, because it is (and this is slippery) the only organ that is so affected by thought processes.
Just like any other organ, the brain can suffer physical dysfunction, but it can also be perfectly healthy and still dysfunctional for the person. The brain needs not only to be well cared for physically, but needs to form the right links throughout life to make for a functional *mind*. Because it's the most environmentally malleable organ in the body, it needs treatment on that level as well as on the organic level. Until the day comes that we understnd the finer workings of the mind, and it's biological basis, it'll probably be easier to treat higher level disorders with drugs *and* therapy.
poster:Eddie Sylvano
thread:1184
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/psycho/20020829/msgs/1185.html