APA on thin ice

[Guest guest]

In the January 1, 2006 Los Angeles Times, Irwin Savodnik, a psychiatrist and

philosopher who teaches at UCLA came out swinging against psychiatry and one of

the things he said was this:

" Nowhere in the rest of medicine has such a proliferation of categories

occurred. The reason for this difference between psychiatry and other medical

specialties has more to do with ideology than with science. A brief peek at both

areas makes this point clear. All medicine rests on the premise that disease is

a manifestation of diseased tissue. Hepatitis comes down to an inflamed liver,

while lung tissue infiltrated with pneumococcus causes pneumonia. Every medical

student learns this principle. Where, though, is the diseased tissue in

psychopathological conditions? "

(Note: Parents are being mislead by a multi billion-dollar a year child drugging

industry that a diagnoses of " mental disorder " , ie ADHD, Bi-Polar, Social

Anxiety Disorder, are medical diseases or illnesses. This is a fraud. No child

has a brain scan, blood test, X-Ray or any evidence of physical abnormality to

verify they are " ill " or " diseased " .)

Today, the President of the American Psychiatric Association got his letter

published. Notice how he tip toes around the issue of mental " illness " .

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-lew-psych6jan06,0,3355323.story?c\

oll=la-news-comment-letters

January 6, 2006

Los Angeles Times

LETTERS

Criticism of psychiatry found to be unsound

In his commentary, " Psychiatry's sick compulsion: turning weaknesses into

diseases " (Current, Jan. 1), Dr. Irwin Savodnik implies that mental illnesses

are not real and are overly diagnosed. This is untrue and irrelevant. Psychiatry

is science-based, and mental illnesses are real and treatable.

Like high blood pressure, " biological markers " (i.e., blood tests) are not

obvious for some illnesses such as depression. But the signs of this illness are

manifested by changes in sleep, energy and appetite, and the immune system's

ability to fight infections.

The World Health Organization's " International Classification of Diseases, " the

diagnostic system for all United Nations members, lists more than 12,000

medical, surgical and mental diagnoses and conditions. Mental illnesses are a

critical aspect of medicine.

The American Psychiatric Assn. works to ensure that humane care and effective

treatment are available to all persons suffering from mental illnesses. Mental

health is a key component of overall health. And facts are a key component of a

constructive debate.

STEVEN S. SHARFSTEIN MD

President

American Psychiatric Assn.

Arlington, Va.

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