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DSM 5 proposes change to major depressive order
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<blockquote data-quote="Marguerite" data-source="post: 373942" data-attributes="member: 1991"><p>I'm not sure how the mental health profession is in the US, but in Australia is has tightened up a great deal. There are clear distinctions between psychologists (of varying kinds, all carefully defined and regulated) and psychiatrists, who first of all have to also be qualified and registered doctors. Ideas and attitudes have changed considerably and a lot of dead wood has been cleaned out of the professional ranks.</p><p></p><p>I do agree we have too many differential diagnoses, for what often turns out to be merely a symptom of another disorder, not a specific disorder standing alone. How many of us have seen the "alphabet soup" list of diagnoses, of new members here? Or in our own kids? The problem isn't with the DSM criteria, though, it is with the medical profession as a whole being fragmented and not treating patients holistically. Yes, different conditions and sub-conditions are increasingly defined in detail. But they are also often connected to other 'umbrella' conditions and doctors using DSM criteria need to know what they're doing and look broadly, rather than in fine minute detail.</p><p></p><p>The problem rests with medical practitioners who get lazy and use the DSM as a "paint by numbers" tool, instead of also engaging their brains. More vigilance in the medical profession, as well as double-checking, will weed out such mistakes. But only if we as consumers also stop demanding labels where they're not always appropriate.</p><p></p><p>Marg</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Marguerite, post: 373942, member: 1991"] I'm not sure how the mental health profession is in the US, but in Australia is has tightened up a great deal. There are clear distinctions between psychologists (of varying kinds, all carefully defined and regulated) and psychiatrists, who first of all have to also be qualified and registered doctors. Ideas and attitudes have changed considerably and a lot of dead wood has been cleaned out of the professional ranks. I do agree we have too many differential diagnoses, for what often turns out to be merely a symptom of another disorder, not a specific disorder standing alone. How many of us have seen the "alphabet soup" list of diagnoses, of new members here? Or in our own kids? The problem isn't with the DSM criteria, though, it is with the medical profession as a whole being fragmented and not treating patients holistically. Yes, different conditions and sub-conditions are increasingly defined in detail. But they are also often connected to other 'umbrella' conditions and doctors using DSM criteria need to know what they're doing and look broadly, rather than in fine minute detail. The problem rests with medical practitioners who get lazy and use the DSM as a "paint by numbers" tool, instead of also engaging their brains. More vigilance in the medical profession, as well as double-checking, will weed out such mistakes. But only if we as consumers also stop demanding labels where they're not always appropriate. Marg [/QUOTE]
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DSM 5 proposes change to major depressive order
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