There is (I think) a biological basis for mental illness -- as for any illness. I don't think it is the basis. People such as Torrey deny any possible basis except "biological" for what they deem "serious" mental illnesses, which for Torrey used to be schizophrenia, but he has added bipolar now. At least in the past Torrey discounted any other mental illness as being "serious", deeming them difficulties of the "worried well" [his term].

It is interesting to me how different is the attitude about involuntary treatments if you have a disease that is considered "physical" as opposed to "mental". If someone is going to administer a "treatment" to me I want to feel that that person is emotionally well-balanced, to say the least, and that their judgement can be trusted. I think many people have had such bad experiences in their early lives that they resist, out of what may be misplaced fear, treatments offered to them. If the mental health system had as good a reputation for decent treatment as the rest of medicine, I think there would not be this fear of what the system may do to people -- but it does not. There are many instances in the history of treatment of the mentally ill, including some in the present, that, it seems to me, make some people fearful, and legitimately so, of forced treatment. I want my treatment to be done out of mindful awareness, not out of the fears of the ones presenting the treatment. I don't think one can universally expect that at this time. In particular, from my readings of what Torrey has said in the past, I don't think he is one of those whose emotional balance I would trust.