[Harry01 (OP)]

Yes, I am going to open a massive hornets nest here, but I say: bring it on. Anyone want to defend the DSM and some of the nonsense psychiatric labelling. Let's talk about the labels that might have more scientific weight and distinguish them between ones that are borderline nonsense.

I think that it is a public service to discuss this as my psychiatric labels were misused and ultimately how does one recover from "body dysmorphia" or whatever it means to have this thing.

[vhfpmr]

This makes an interesting read. In essence, Smail argues that most mental health problems are a normal reaction to abnormal circumstances, and therapy fails because it seeks to gaslight the patients into believing that they having an abnormal reaction to normal circumstances. The only therapist I've met who could communicate rationally without being deliberately obtuse left the job saying "I'm fed up of the way the patients are patronised, and fed up of pretending we're helping when we know we aren't".

My advice to anyone contemplating getting themselves a mental health record would be think very carefully about whether you want your healthcare blighted by Diagnostic Overshadowing for the rest of your life.

Connections by Johan Hari is a thoughtful and intelligent look at how our modern way of life creates many of the health problems that are reaching epidemic levels.

[Origin]

In essence, Smail argues that most mental health problems are a normal reaction to abnormal circumstances, and therapy fails because it seeks to gaslight the patients into believing that they having an abnormal reaction to normal circumstances.

So are you saying mental conditions like schizophrenia doesn't really exist?

[evan_au]

I have heard that preparation of the next edition of DSM is lobbied by interested parties, because in the USA they can get health insurance funding if someone is diagnosed with a condition listed in the DSM.

That creates a perverse incentive to diagnose everything as one psychological condition or another.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disorders#Overdiagnosis

[vhfpmr]

In essence, Smail argues that most mental health problems are a normal reaction to abnormal circumstances, and therapy fails because it seeks to gaslight the patients into believing that they having an abnormal reaction to normal circumstances.

So are you saying mental conditions like schizophrenia doesn't really exist?

I think it's plain obvious I haven't said that, and nor did Smail, but even a schizophrenia diagnosis isn't necessarily what it purports to be.

https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-99a7c34202a277ea8db60c8a01128864

[Origin]

I think it's plain obvious I haven't said that, and nor did Smail, but even a schizophrenia diagnosis isn't necessarily what it purports to be.

https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-99a7c34202a277ea8db60c8a01128864

Ok, then what did you mean by "most mental health problems are a normal reaction to abnormal circumstances"?   

[vhfpmr]

I think it's plain obvious I haven't said that, and nor did Smail, but even a schizophrenia diagnosis isn't necessarily what it purports to be.

https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-99a7c34202a277ea8db60c8a01128864

Ok, then what did you mean by "most mental health problems are a normal reaction to abnormal circumstances"?

You've already had the answer to that question, 7% of mental health conditions doesn't constitute 'most', does it.

[Origin]

You've already had the answer to that question, 7% of mental health conditions doesn't constitute 'most', does it.

I didn't have the answer, that is why I asked.  So this Smail guy doesn't know what he is talking about.

[evan_au]

One of the ironies of the US health system is that health insurance is normally tied to employment - and is often unaffordable without health insurance.

That means that those most in need of mental health services are often denied them - those suffering stress due to unemployment or cultural bias, or those who lose their employment due to erratic behavior.