Quote:
Originally Posted by BudFox
True, but the above quotes from insiders are suggesting that such a generalization is appropriate. Here's a few more:
“DSM-IV is the fabrication upon which psychiatry seeks acceptance by medicine in general. Insiders know it is more a political than scientific document…DSM-IV has become a bible and a money making bestseller—its major failings notwithstanding.”
—Loren Mosher, M.D., Clinical Professor of Psychiatry
“We can manufacture enough diagnostic labels of normal variability of mood and thought that we can continually supply medication to you…But when it comes to manufacturing disease, nobody does it like psychiatry.” —Dr. Stefan Kruszewski, Harvard trained Pennsylvania psychiatrist, 2004
“I believe, until the public and psychiatry itself see that DSM labels are not only useless as medical ‘diagnoses’ but also have the potential to do great harm—particularly when they are used as means to deny individual freedoms, or as weapons by psychiatrists acting as hired guns for the legal system.” —Dr. Sydney Walker III, psychiatrist
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You know that we could go on a quote war, but I don't think it would be helpful.... you post a page of quotes, I post a page of quotes.....
I think the DSM, like many things, has elements of blessing and bane. I understand those who point out its failings. It has failings. And strengths. I believe in those who believe(d) that naming things can have healing properties, and created a system to help us with common illnesses.
And I personally enjoy it and find parts of it helpful. I don't expect any group would agree with everything in such a massive tome- how would that even be possible? Yet the majority employs it, showing that it is found to be helpful enough despite its imperfections.