The triumph of BigPharma is nearly complete. The American Psychiatric Association just approved the latest edition of its bible, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 (DSM 5.) Why should you care? Because it will result in misdiagnosis, over-diagnosis, and mistreatment of millions of Americans, including American children. And, by the way, cost you lots of money if you pay taxes or insurance premiums.
DSM 5 broadens diagnostic criteria to the point where it is very difficult not to qualify for some diagnoses, for example, my personal candidate for most overdiagnosed condition of the 21st century, Bipolar Disorder. It removes diagnoses that will result in the unavailability of non-phamaceutical services to children, e.g., Asperger's Disorder. It also adds diagnostic criteria or categories that will result in skyrocketing drug sales, an ever expanding black market, and increased rates of addiction.
Are you still grieving two weeks after the death of a loved one. Congratulations! You now qualify for Major Depressive Disorder and do we have the brain numbing and/or lifting meds for you, along with other meds to control the side effects! Do you or your kids have temper tantrums? No, no, no, you actually have Disruptive Mood Disregulation Disorder and we have just the right atypical antipsychotics and mood stabilizers for you! Do you have trouble paying attention to your boring boss at interminable meetings? Must be Adult Attention Deficit disorder and here's your script for stimulants! Worry about stuff a lot? you may be eligible for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and the very addicting benzodiazepines that go along with it!
I kid you not. Why is this happening? Money, status, and power. I'll write more about the causes in my next post. Check out this prominent psychiatrist's take on DSM 5:
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