Some researchers still argue, however, that attenuated psychosis syndrome is useful and that further research will support its utility. "I think it is the future of therapeutics and our best hope to make a real-life course difference for people vulnerable to developing chronic psychosis," William Carpenter, director of the Maryland Psychiatric Research Center, wrote in an e-mail. "I would have preferred to place it in the main text now, but appreciate the limitation without proof of good reliability." Patrick McGorry, director of the Orygen Youth Health Research Center in Australia, has similar thoughts. "On balance, I agree with and can certainly accept the decision," he said in an e-mail. McGorry notes, however, that although only one third of children identified as high risk for psychosis become psychotic, more than 70 percent of the remaining children develop mood, anxiety or substance use disorders, according to data he has presented at conferences and will publish shortly. Both Carpenter and McGorry say that antipsychotics and other drugs are not the only treatment option; alternatives include cognitive behavioral therapy to recognize and diminish maladaptive thought patterns, talk therapy, interventions to reduce substance abuse and simply increased watchfulness for any worsening indicators of psychosis.
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8 Comments
Add CommentI see nothing here addressing Complex Post Traumatic Stress as a disorder or syndrome or recognizing it at all. Did that not make the cut for this latest manual, or just not for this article?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI suspect that these manuals tend to disregard many disorders, as insurance companies prefer it that way.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisA travesty of scientific evidence
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAPA does not seem too worried about the serious risk of false positives, which may have dire negative consequences such as unsuitable drugs, professional exclusion, social labelling.
Reads like a conspiracy between insurance companies and mental health professionals, in which mess people with serious and curable syndromes may well be missed.
You didn't discuss the changes in the eating disorder criteria that are also rather controversial.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI suspect that this manual will continue to pathologize normal variants of the human personality, and stigmatize those bearing them. While in school, I tended to fidget and look out the window. Now I'm told that that's a symptom of "attention deficit disorder" for which powerful psychoactive drugs are indicated. Never mind that I maintained a 90+ average throughout. Never mind that our ancestors needed a periodic fix on their surroundings if they expected to be the diner and not the dinner. Never mind that our ancestors made their living running for hours on end and killing large animals with primitive weapons. Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evoluton, but that doesn't stop fat pigs behind desks from dispensing psychiatric diagnoses to robust healthy rambuntious kids.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI was never good at matching names with faces or interpreting body language. Now I'm told those are symptoms of Asperger's Syndrome; never mind that I compensate very well with written and spoken language and I do not consider myself sick.
Hardly a day passes when I do not think of President Kennedy. This does not affect my functioning in the least, except on November 22, the anniversary of his assassination, when I am not in the mood for entertainment or Thanksgiving dinner. Now I'm told I have "complicated grief," but all I experience is natural grief for a political idol the like of whom I do not expect to see again in my lifetime.
All this is giving me (complicated?) grief, and calls to mind the abuse of psychiatry by the Soviets to quell political dissent. If you have a biochemical, brain imaging or other definitive test for your diagnosis - fine. Otherwise, throw away the cookie cutter and celebrate humanity's pizzazz.
Geez! Another bestseller for APA. More money folks.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisUnfortunately, commentors are not familiar with the body of work done on DSM, not to mention the study required to become conversant with psychology.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTo address only a couple misunderstandings:
DSM is a large manual, far beyond the 7 extremely short pages of this article.
Unedited internet comments on subjects which take decades of study to develop coherent understanding are particularly inappropriate.
Although I've studied psychology and related disciplines for sometime, I did not do so for therapeutic reasons. That said, almost no comment on the subject on this or other websites takes into account the real empathy which those involved in the therapeutic disciplines and the development of DSM, as well, have for others, ALL others.
SA is not a panacea site such as MSN Health or any site in which glib curealls are offered for illness or personal difficulties or desires. It is a digest of information which might be used as portal to specific peer-reviewed literature for those who seek knowledge of rigorous research encompassing the lifetimes of hundreds of thousands of dedicated individuals.
I am framing my criticism in terms of a social problem: failure of many in society to respect others, and promoting this disrespect of individuals, groups, and disciplines of professional dedication (ANY discipline, whether within their own culture or outside of it), through using internet comment as aggressive outlet for personal frustration elsewhere.
Commentors might look more insightuflly into their own motivations before attacking others.
How about G.A.S. ? Guitar Acquisition Syndrome? http://www.steelydan.com/gas.html
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisLuckily I've recovered. Sadly many haven't.