I disagree with GNIF Brain Blogger Shaheen’s assertion that the only way to understand mental health issues is through the medicalization and organic markers for mental disorders and tests derived from such markers. Psychology and psychiatry have established a very deep, rich knowledgebase of mental disorders and it’s pretty well-established at this point that these disorders are not pure brain or biochemical issues.
Human beings are complex tapestries of human development, personality, social influences, environmental influences, and more. To suggest it will all someday be boiled down to a “mechanism and pathways” is really to discount decades of social science research that proves otherwise.
I agree, however, that medical doctors other than psychiatrists, really do need more education and classes on mental health issues. Psychologists get 4 to 6 years of coursework and clinical training, not just a class or two. The fact is that most depression is diagnosed by a general physician or family doctor, not a mental health professional. And while depression is fairly easy to diagnose, differential diagnoses when depression is really just one symptom of a more complex disorder, are often not considered by general physicians. And sometimes a referral to a mental health professional isn’t even made.
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3 Comments to
“I’m Not Just a Biochemical or Gene, I’m a Human Being”
What makes a human being? The minimum requirements are probably a full set of 46 chromosomes in every cell. Certainly we are biological beings but is this all that defines who we are? I would argue not and I would be shocked to find anyone still arguing this sort of hard-line determinism anymore.
I think the mistake of the medical model is in claiming to understand a condition from a neurological basis, true understanding requires a more holistic approach.
I don’t believe that the bio-markers and measures undermine the need to address psychiatric issues in a wholistic way - in fact, the opposite.
Biomarkers and genetic research help the public (and clinicians) put aside false and damaging wrong ideas about mental health. It is stigma and mistaken ideas about Oedipus and choice that keep patients out of care.
Most mental illness is a result of nutritional deficiencies. Bipolar can end with omega-3 and inositol. OCD can be cured with inositol. ADD/ ADHD is improved with zinc.
All of this is available on PubMed.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 29 Mar 2007
