Political Debate on Stress Disorder, Lecture, Podcasts (\"81 words\") PDF

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Summary includes content from a podcast, lecture, article readings and class discussions. It also includes a reflection. ...

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From Lecture Throughout the lecture, I offer you several links to how the DSM can be understood as a tool of power. Please review some of the evidence that I offer about the DSM as powerful. In the lecture, you provided us with DSM categories in which the DSM can be used as a tool of power, these categories are: through treatment, research, program eligibility, reimbursement, approval of drugs and the line between “normal and abnormal”. For example, the approval of drugs is already rigourous as it needs to be tested and revised before it can hit the market, to avoid the tedious and lengthy process, pharmaceutical companies work to add new symptoms and illnesses to the DSM so that it matches a drug or medication that is already out in the market. This is one form of power that is illustrated through the DSM. Please discuss the DSM as “political” and socially constructed versus “scientific.” How does the process of revision connect to the DSM as “political”? According to the lecture, the DSM is rather political and socially constructed versus “scientific”. We see this through the revisions, how non medical professionals have a large input of what is considered a mental illness and what are “acceptable symptoms”, the amount of diagnostics that are included in the DSM to match pre-existing medications. Rather than researching and revising each book with scientific evidence, this book is tailored to target a larger audience so that people who benefit off of individuals who suffer from mental illness and continue to profit off of them. Many individuals and companies who contributed to this book were forced to sign non disclosure agreements, which questions what their motive was to determine what is a mental illness and what are acceptable symptoms. What is your understanding of “reliability” as it connects to the DSM? When I think of reliability and DSM, I do not think of those words being used interchangeably. There are many questions that arise regarding the process of revision and validity. I also question the system of measurements that is utilized to determine if disorders are questionable or reliable. There are many politics that are taken into account when this book is being revised and updated and I wouldn’t trust it as reliable. Discuss your understanding of the shift in Kappa scores and DSM V? Why is this important in understanding the DSM as problematic? The shift of the Kappa scores definitely resonated with me the most during this lecture. A side by side comparison of one of the first DSM’s compared to the DSM five, has proven how skewed this scale is. It is important to understand the DSM as problematic because we need to question medical professionals regarding their diagnosis, and whether we really have a mental illness and not something that is socially constructed to be profited off of. Raising these questions, and understanding the politics and power behind this book is important, especially as an individual who is being prescribed medication for an illness.  From the Podcast: This American Life and “81 Words”: Discuss the process of how the APA “decided” that homosexuality was NOT a disease. What underlying motivations and influences shaped the process? The process of how APA decided that homosexuality was not a disease was costly and it took much time. However, throughout time many homosexual activists and psychiatrists began challenging the discourses.. However it wasn't until Evelyn conducted an experiment by disguising 30

homosexuals and utilized tests to prove her point. Tests which included psychological tests which included a Rorschach test. After disguising her subjects she gave the results to 3 psychiatrists to have them identify who were the homosexuals and heterosexuals. Once Evelyn was able to prove her point, it was then decided and proven that homosexuality was not an illness. Who were the major characters and stakeholders in changing the “81 Words”? As you discuss them, please also discuss what role they played. Some of the major characters and stakeholders in changing the “81” words were Barbara Grittings, Evelyn hooker and Sam Fromm. All played a major role in the pivotal movement where homosexuality was not considered a mental illness. Barbara had a marvelous idea to challenge this notion and have a gay psychiatrist testify what it is like to be a good psychiatrist. Evelyn and Sam both conducted this experiment together, compiling a large amount of students and conducting these tests was the findings they needed to prove the APA they had been wrong. What ultimately led to the change in the “81 Words”? I think what ultimately led to the change in the “81” Words was the resiliency and the approach of the research and tests were taken and executed. Hookers researched challenged the discourse that homosexuality was a pathology. It begged the question of an entire generation of research on homosexuality, it also challenged psychiatry’s concept of the disease. From “Social Network’s Healing Power is Borne Out in Poorer Nations” Highlight some of the results of the three-decade long research projects conducted by the World Health Organization discussed in this article. Some of the results of the three-decade long research proved that individuals who were not on medications their entire life got better over time. Some research has even concluded that drugs and doctors can be useless when treating mental illnesses.   How do poor countries and western countries compare and what are some of the Differences?? Western countries strongly differ from poor countries from their common practices and their medical treatments. For examples Western doctors cannot write prescriptions for stronger family ties. However, Indian psychiatrist, release not only drugs but also spiritual advice, family counseling and even matchmaking services. They are also seen as authority figures, whereas in western countries that are only seen as medical professionals.   From “A Political Debate on Stress Disorder” In what ways has the debate about PTSD become a “pro-war-versus-anti-war issue”? In the article we’re able to read through how veterans that have suffered with or are suffering with PTSD are being questions for their validity. While we have many active members that are currently serving in the army, navy, marines etc. They are being exposed to traumatic episodes they have experienced or witnessed Shankar Vedantam posed a good question “if we show that PTSD is prevalent and severe, that becomes one more little reason we should stop waging war. If, on the other hand, PTSD rates are low, that is convenient” (2). Some politicians and community members are questioning whether veterans should even receive these benefits, their thought process questions their decision to go to war. The compare the cons with going to war and the effects it has, as well as being anti war.

Outline what the “debate” about PTSD is – who are the stakeholders that are taking part in this debate? Describe the various viewpoints about disability and PTSD. The “debate” outlined in this article is questioning or the need to create budget cuts for disability services to veterans. While many conservatives and politicians are advocating in strengthening the “medical screenings” and diagnosis to veterans with PTSD, others are advocating to keep benefits to assist our veteran population. One one side, there has been claims that many veterans are lying about their diagnosis to receive aid and benefits, that is one major reasons why many individuals are fighting for budget cuts. However, there are also many veterans that are not claiming aid or asking for assistance with their PTSD because of the discourse of mental health. The reading also poses the debate of other forms in which treating PTSD can be approached differently, as of now the government and local officials/centers work to compensate individuals suffering with PTSD, but why aren’t they pushing an agenda for more? Discuss PTSD as “socially constructed”. Thus far we have learned about mental illness and how it has been socially constructed, this week we solely focus on the PTSD narrative and the social construction of it. Personally, I understand that certain traumatic events can cause PTSD, however, there are many individuals that believe otherwise. In the reading we compared and analyzed two different arguments regarding veterans with PTSD, while many questioned that notion or illness, research has proven that many veterans live with the disease, but hardly ask for help.   Reflection:  The DSM provided me with a broader insight of diagnosis and mental illness. As I have stated before my older sister is currently in an MFT program and she has the DSM V in her bookshelf. Previous to taking this course we would look through the book and see how we would diagnose family members that displayed certain symptoms, I recall questioning the validity of this book, but I did not dig further. After the lecture this week I realized all the politics and power that is behind this book to make profit off of individuals that have mental illnesses, or so they think they do. The approach this book takes or even the symptoms and diagnosis is questionable. All the topics discussed this week are interchangeable, although they were semi different, they all intersected one way or another. In two articles we challenged the DSM and questioned the diagnosis and learned how homosexuality was labeled as a mental illness. We were able to analyze how mental illnesses are and were socially constructed and how we have developed our own notion based off epistemology.  Feedback: I think the discussion went okay, I would of liked shorter instructions of what you expect. I understand that this is an online class and there is a lot of reading, but students can get lost and confused with a lot of reading of instructions. Perhaps you could explain next time through a video of what you expect from the discussion....