Psychiatric Bible (DSM-IV) Undergoes Revisions

Are you in doubt as to what is or isn’t a mental disease? Evidently, so are the psychiatrists. They’re in the process of editing—and expanding—their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, yet again.

Read “Psychiatrists Revise the Book of Human Troubles,” and you will see how “disorders” are judged. Psychiatrists bring up the symptoms and discuss whether or not that condition (excessive nose picking, or chronic lateness—not kidding) qualifies as a disorder. There are “political, social and financial” influences.”

And this is why “parity” just doesn’t work. If someone has a case of measles, there’s no doubt about it. The evidence is right there on the body. Broken bones, same. Bacterial infections, same. No one votes on it. Research, yes. Observation, sure. But it isn’t just “opinion.”

As the leading historian of psychiatry, Edward Shorter, phrased it: “What you have in the end is this process of sorting the deck of symptoms into syndromes, and the outcome all depends on how the cards fall.”

—Based on an article by Benedict Carey, “Psychiatrists Revise the Book of Human Troubles,” December 17, 2008, nytimes.com

Chinese Whistle-blowers Sent to Mental Hospital

Evidentally the Chinese feel that being locked up in a mental ward is suitable punishment for speaking one's mind. Guess they have a low opinion of psychiatry too, since they're equating their hospitals with prisons. Once these people are diagnosed, they lose their legal rights. And so much for human rights.

—"Whistle-blowers in Chinese City sent to Mental Hospital," by Andrew Jacobs, December 8, 2008, nytimes.com

Healthy Alternatives for A Change

Natural News is a site about natural foods, natural health treatments and anything else that is part of a “natural” lifestyle. This section on psychiatric drugs offers non-drug solutions, articles exposing psychiatry’s myths and shortcomings, and helpful resources.

http://www.naturalnews.com/psychiatric_drug.html

The Perils of Psychiatric Care

An investigation into a chain of psychiatric hospitals—ironically named Psychiatric Solutions, Inc.—uncovers negligent care that put patients at risk and, in some cases, even caused their deaths.

“When Steven Burton, 55, checked in for treatment of alcohol abuse and depression in February, he complained of chest pains. The intake nurse didn't notify a doctor because, as she later told regulators, ‘he didn't look sick.’"

—“Psychiatric care's peril and profits”, by Christina Jewett and Robin Fields, ProPublica Staff Writers, November 23, 2008

Psych Hospital Fined for Prescription Error

"A Sacramento psychiatric hospital that gave a patient 10 times the suggested dose of the wrong medicine was fined $25,000 Thursday, joining one other psychiatric institution and nine hospitals facing penalties statewide."

—"Sacramento psychiatric hospital fined $25,000 for medication error," by Christina Jewett, March 21, 2008

http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/802336.html

Too Many Kids on Meds?

You bet! See the experts (psychiatric, medical and legal) discuss this important subject.

In their words there is/are NO:

—studies that show brain abnormalities
—scientific evidence
—biological markers
—illness
—disease

A “depressed” child may be physically ill. A fidgety “ADD” child probably has a study problem. Don’t let anyone talk you into putting your kids on psychiatric drugs without finding out ALL of the dangers and alternative treatments. Children are a parent’s responsibility and you’re their first line of defense.

YouTube videos from “Your Turn” with Kathy Fountain, Fox 13

Psychology Debunked

Although the media leads you to believe that the only people protesting psychiatry are Scientologists, opponents come from all religious and ethnic backgrounds.

PsychologyDebunked.com—run by Lisa Bazler, an experienced counselor and family therapist, and her husband, Ryan Bazler, an electrical engineer—is a site with a Christian viewpoint. Psychology Debunked is also the title of their book.

Here's the site’s summary of the current situation with psychiatry and the general public.