Does psychiatry worsen mental illness stigma?

When a person gets depressed over their divorce, they are said to have a mental illness. When a person becomes psychotic from a manic episode due to their bipolar disorder, they are also said to have a mental illness. But are both of these illnesses mental illnesses? The definition of mental is that which relates to cerebral, brain, cognitive or intellectual processes. Many disorders occur from problems in the anatomy or function of the brain: epilepsy, tumors, agenesis of a brain area, strokes, Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism, Alzheimer’s and Tourette’s disorder, to mention a few.  These disorders can affect memory, thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and movements. Most of these problems or illnesses are called neurological disorders.  But some are called psychiatric disorders. There is also a third category, the non-brain-based emotional disorders such as depression, panic, anxiety, anger, substance abuse and obsessions. These are not caused by brain malfunction or anatomical anomalies. They are caused by our relationship problems with people we live with, associate with, and work with. Don’t we all have emotional distresses and problems at times due to interpersonal strife? Don’t some of these become emotional illnesses? We all have relationship conflicts of varying degrees that cause us at times to feel depressed, anxious, angry, or sad. When these problems with our mates, children, co-workers, bosses, friends or relatives become sev...
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Tags: Conditions Psychiatry Source Type: blogs