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Willravel · 03-11-2010, 05:20 PM

The voting is only one part of the process by which something is added, taken away or amended in the DSM. Voting is a part of the peer review system in psychology and psychiatry. As I'm sure everyone knows, peer review is vital to the scientific method. Voting only happens after exhaustive studies and research have been done. The studies and research are where psychology really moves forward and self-corrects as a science. The voting is just a final measure to ensure that the quality of the data and conclusions are beyond reproach.

I'll tell you what psychiatry and psychology are not: guessing games. Psychologists don't just go vote on whatever they want included or removed from the DSM. Even in the famous case of homosexuality, before the vote took place there was extensive research done which demonstrated that the current methods of treatment were harmful. It was only after the science took place that there was a vote and that vote was just as science should be: correcting based on empirical evidence and corroborating studies.

Are you comfortable with the DSM and it's use? Absolutely. The DSM represents the current best understanding of diagnosing and treating mental illness.

At what point does 'not normal' Cross the line into mental illness? That depends a great deal on the specific case. You might as well ask "At what point does not healthy become ill?" It's going to depend.

How functionally deficient does a person have to be to be considered mentally ill? Again, this has to be established on a case by case basis. Psychology and psychiatry aren't simple sciences.

Do psychiatrists and psychologists deserve the same level of respect as physicians and other health care providers? Yes.

A closing thought: psychology and psychiatry are routinely attacked in a way that's similar to the science of climate change or the evolution of life. While I would never suggest you should blindly follow whatever experts say, it's important to recognize that as a lay-person you may have have access to all the facts in a case like this. Don't start with the assumption that an entire branch of science is wrong. Remain skeptical, as a scientist would, until the positive claim (in this case, that psychiatry and psychology are bonk) can be established.

03-11-2010, 05:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	The voting is only one part of the process by which something is added, taken away or amended in the DSM. Voting is a part of the peer review system in psychology and psychiatry. As I'm sure everyone knows, peer review is vital to the scientific method. Voting only happens after exhaustive studies and research have been done. The studies and research are where psychology really moves forward and self-corrects as a science. The voting is just a final measure to ensure that the quality of the data and conclusions are beyond reproach. I'll tell you what psychiatry and psychology are not: guessing games. Psychologists don't just go vote on whatever they want included or removed from the DSM. Even in the famous case of homosexuality, before the vote took place there was extensive research done which demonstrated that the current methods of treatment were harmful. It was only after the science took place that there was a vote and that vote was just as science should be: correcting based on empirical evidence and corroborating studies. Are you comfortable with the DSM and it's use? Absolutely. The DSM represents the current best understanding of diagnosing and treating mental illness. At what point does 'not normal' Cross the line into mental illness? That depends a great deal on the specific case. You might as well ask "At what point does not healthy become ill?" It's going to depend. How functionally deficient does a person have to be to be considered mentally ill? Again, this has to be established on a case by case basis. Psychology and psychiatry aren't simple sciences. Do psychiatrists and psychologists deserve the same level of respect as physicians and other health care providers? Yes. A closing thought: psychology and psychiatry are routinely attacked in a way that's similar to the science of climate change or the evolution of life. While I would never suggest you should blindly follow whatever experts say, it's important to recognize that as a lay-person you may have have access to all the facts in a case like this. Don't start with the assumption that an entire branch of science is wrong. Remain skeptical, as a scientist would, until the positive claim (in this case, that psychiatry and psychology are bonk) can be established.