Medicine's big new battleground: does mental illness really exist?

[napoleon_in_rags]

86. My opinion is driven in part by my years of experience with mental illness.

There's this basic truth - extremely mentally ill should get meds. Meds save lives (especially in the case of suicidally depressed) and meds stabilize people.

I've taken meds myself when I needed them, and gotten off. I'm glad they are there.

BUT there's more to the picture. Both my partner and myself work with mentally ill, and we notice the ubiquitous histories of abuse. We also notice people who just get meds thrown at them, and end up sedated and obese... When the best therapy in many cases would be less meds and more positive life changes.

And what's NOT a biological condition when you use a broad definition? Life is a biological condition. However, there's no blood test for PTSD, its a reaction to life circumstances. If you don't take a holistic view of the individual, you'll miss their story, who they are, and what their mind state is about in that context.

When somebody sees horrible violence against people the cared about in a war zone and comes back with PTSD, are we saying "Don't worry, your reaction to violence is a biological disorder, take a pill" or are we saying "take this pill if you need to stabilize, but your reaction to what you see is natural for many people". I think the second is better therapy and better care.