Why does every little quirk have to be treated or diagnosed as a mental illness or personality disorder?

Question

Why does every little quirk have to be treated or diagnosed as a mental illness or personality disorder?

Answer 1

Not every little quirk is a mental illness. You need a whole set of related quirks to be properly diagnosed. The DSM is by no means perfect, but its the best we've got at this time. There are several psychologists who want to convert to a spectrum process of diagnosis, rather than the checklist system we have now.

I don't really going around to every person and saying, "You just washed your hands. You have OCD!", "Did you hear what I said? Do you have ADHD?", "You cried last night? You must have depression.", "Your child did not speak to me. He must be autistic.", "You're still upset about that argument? You have a Histrionic Personality Disorder."

To do this would be highly unethical. That is why the DSM criteria exists. Diagnosis is not usually made until a clinical interview and/or testing is performed.

Also, keep in mind that many people seek psychological help because they are having problems with their "quirks". They require insurance to pay for meds and psychotherapy, but the insurance company won't pay a dime unless they have a diagnosis.



BTW- psychology is NOT easy and not exactly the profession you seek if you want to make a fortune. And consult with any neuropsychologist and they will tell you that many mental illnesses are due to biological factors (i.e. frontal lobe formation in ADHD).

Answer 2

Many minor mental illness/disorders are vastly over-diagnosed. People think that any kid who can't sit still for several hours on end must be ADHD. My mom's theory about ADHD (she's a psychologist) is that it doesn't really exist per se, but if people have trouble concentrating and Ritalin helps we might as well give it to them. Many people think that anyone who's shy must have an anxiety disorder or anyone who's sad must be depressed.



There are legitimate mental illnesses out there (I happen to think that schizophrenia is not a social construct), but for the most part it's just society trying to normalize everything. If something is a problem for you because society doesn't match your mental patterns and drugs or therapy helps then you might as well take full advantage of that. But if it's not a problem for the individual (and they're not running around killing people or anything) I see no reason why it needs to be diagnosed as a mental illness. If you ask me, the mental health industry should treat people without diagnosing a recognized disorder. Like rather than this person has ADHD, the seem to have trouble with impulse control, so we'll give them stimulants and see if that help. The vast majority of psychiatric medications are dosed by trial and error anyway.

Answer 3

Hi! Asked myself the same question some time ago as well. Good answers here :-) . There are some very controversial diagnoses out there and, I think, specialists don't sometimes know neither what personality disorder/mental illness to diagnose someone because there are so many different diagnoses one could put onto one person. It always depends what signs/symptoms are preponderant. On Internet sites, they tell you that, if you have got five symptoms out of nine on the list, you might be borderline personality. But most people have got a dual diagnosis anyway I suppose. For me, it is BPD/eating disorder. It is okay to seek help but, yes, everyone must take responsibility for one's life and not use the diagnosis as an excuse for "bad" behaviour. One should not overanalyse oneself neither but, yes, definitely, if it interferes with your daily functioning, one should seek help, nevermind if the professional diagnoses you or not.

Answer 4

i'm worried with this with regard to psychiatry/psychotherapy. there's a fantasy that "psychological ailment" will be wisely clinically determined and dealt with. the challenge isn't any-one stops to imagine about the genuine causal aspect of 'psychological sickness'. the in trouble-free words acknowledged rationalization for melancholy and different like a issues, that are not the outcome of a sparkling organic and organic aberration, is stress. stress is a socially led to phenomenon, no longer a organic and organic one and is delivered on my a existence-form, regularly worry and stress. u . s . a .'s different fantasy is the means to fix each and every difficulty with ideological pragmatism. i can understand research right into a danger organic and organic etiologies, which may make prevention and treatment that a lot a lot less confusing, although the mode is now to assume that regardless of if a ailment isn't actual in beginning, it will be dealt with as such. it rather is a at a loss for words approach. Pharmaceutical agencies help this, although the challenge lies with clinicians, how they're experienced or maybe if or not they prefer money from pharma over serious and critical diagnoses.

Answer 5

People are definitely overdiagnosed in our culture. One problem is most people are getting diagnosed by their physicians and being treated with meds, while most physicians aren't adequately trained to diagnose psych disorders. It also gives some poeple an "excuse" for their behavior. Also, it should only be diagnosed as a psychiatric disorder if the symptoms significantly interfere with your functioning (i.e., can't keep a job because you shower 4 hours/day to get the germs off, can't keep any friends/relationships, suicidal, or have addictions). That's my 2 cents.

Answer 6

It's a money game. So many people have majored in psychology because people told them that was 1 of the easiest course studies to get through. Ever since the great psychology craze of the 1960's there continues to be more and more books and theories written with the complicity of psychology in mind, so that people can analyze, wonder, make excuses, pay for therapists and medicate themselves legally.

Answer 7

I guess your friends cant accept people who dont fit their idea of whats normal . ( is that a personality disorder ?? )



I think we all worry too much ... Dont worry Be Happy.



If these little quirks get you in jail or are dangerous to the life or wellfare of you or others then they probably are not "Little". Dont concern yourself about what others think unless they are trained and experienced in the matter they are discussing.

Answer 8

They aren't. 15% of the American adult population has a personality disorder and another 5% have a mental illness that is not a personality disorder. 1% of the population has a psychosis.

Answer 9

Because any condition that is listed in the International Classification of Diseases book (ICD) can 'legitimately' receive treatment and may even qualify for the 'golden egg' known as 'insurance reimbursement'.

Answer 10

So all the so-called mental health professionals can make the money that they need to survive and live comfortably.

Answer 11

I agree, I'm even skeptical on whether ADD really exists or if it's just that parents can't discipline their children and teach them learning skills...