Mental Health Stigma
Monday April 14, 2008
An interesting opinion piece from Cox News Service fantasizes about a genetic test for mental disorders that would then "legitimize" them and reduce stigma. The author also hopes that it would increase insurance coverage. I think it is important to note that making mental disorders "illnesses" in the political and insurance world may get more coverage, but I think it can be dangerous to begin a trend that all disorders are medical illnesses, implying that they are physiologically based problems, which is certainly not always the case.
Comments
Will,
Researchers are working on genetic tests,in part, to help guide them in finding the right med for psychiatric disorders such as GAD.. I believe this test,unfortunately, is not exactly around the corner. I would point out that we sufferers often have to go through many.many,med trials to finally find the right one.Sometimes this can take years of suffering until setting upon the right med,or combo of meds. If you talk to the top researchers at the NIMH, I believe you will find that there is a strong consensus that these disorders are illnesses,and are physiologically based brain disorders.GAD is not just a worrying disorder; it is a mental illness.Am I saying that all mental illnesses are 100% biological?No.No doubt cognitive distortions are at play. The origin is certainly not psychologically based.Should we give endless psychotherapy for a few years to someone severely suffering from GAD,bipolar disorder,OCD,etc,and then introduce medication?Which should come first?.Genetic studies and imaging support the classification of illness. We often get the short end of the stick from insurers that do not put them on par with the other accepted illnesses such as diabetes. I believe that,this,along with public misinformation,or no information is what I believe creates stigma.
So,I would ask you: by stating “all disorders(mental)”, are you including GAD among these? That seems to be the implication.
Should GAD not be considered a medical illness on par with other medically “accepted”illnesses such as diabetes?Are you implying that GAD,along with the other major mental illnesses,is not biologically based,but mainly psychological in origin?.
Please clarify for us forum members.
Thank you