Article discussing what, exactly, constitutes mental illness

[Guest guest]

For those who are interested in such things as the history of psychiatry and the

new developments in classifying mental illnesses (i.e. the in-progress DSM-V),

here is the link to a short article that mentions a fascinating long-term

project that NIMH is embarking on that may eventually completely replace the way

mental illnesses are currently classified and diagnosed.

As a big fan of the hard sciences, I am very interested to learn that the

National Institute of Mental Health has given the green light to this research

project whose goal is to include as much as possible the *physical basis of

various mental illnesses* as important diagnostic tools. Individual brain

structure, brain organization, brain chemistry, genetics, brain injury, and

neurobiology would be carefully studied and included as part of any

determination regarding a diagnosis of mental illness.

This quote nailed the premise for me: " Doctors don't define a broken leg as

" unable to walk, " so why should psychiatrists define a mental disorder solely

based on the behavioral symptoms? "

To me, this biological/neurological and scientific line of research holds the

greatest possible hope for the future RE earlier diagnosis, better/more

effective treatments, and possibly even actual cures for mental illnesses.

Here's the link:

http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/redefining_mental_illness/

-Annie