For those who do not know, the DSM is the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders, that is, the manual on which psychiatrists rely to diagnose a mental disorder. This categorization of mental disorders has always been involved in various controversies.
For example, it has been argued that the way DSM categories are structured, as well as the substantial expansion of the number of categories, are representative of a growing medicalization of human nature, which can be attributed to the power of pharmaceutical companies.
Of all the authors who selected and defined DSM-IV psychiatric disorders, approximately half have had financial relationships with the pharmaceutical industry. The connections between these authors and pharmaceutical companies were particularly strong in those diagnoses where drugs are the first line of treatment, such as schizophrenia and mood disorders. Source
I leave you with these four data that question the credibility of the DSM:
1) When Social Anxiety Disorder was added to DSM-III in 1980, it was barely diagnosed. It was considered a rare disorder until the drug 'Paxil' was approved for its treatment in the late 90s. Now 5,3 million Americans are diagnosed with Social Anxiety Disorder and it is the third most common psychiatric disorder. Source
2) The National Institute of Mental Health withdrew support for DSM-V, claiming it is invalid. Fountain
3) Homosexuality was considered a disorder in the DSM until 1974. Source
4) France does not use the DSM to classify mental illnesses: this is why French children do not have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 😉 Source
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Excellent article. It sucks how health companies collude to get the best economic benefit from sick people, who rather than need a remedy made with laboratory formulas, are in need of healing through the love they can experience.
This is a very good post. All the best.