NY Times - Psychiatry of the Absurd

[Guest guest]

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This makes my blood boil that psychiatrists,

who can't even agree on his diagnosis, can

determine Ross' fate. It's another example

of how unscientific their field and DSM manual

is, how subjective " their " labels really are, and

the fate of those labels.

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_http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/23185.htm_

(http://www.nypost.com/postopinion/opedcolumnists/23185.htm)

 

" PSYCHIATRY OF THE ABSURD "

By ARNOLD AHLERT

 

IN Connecticut, convicted serial killer

Michael Ross wants to be put to death for

his crimes. But in this hearing to decide his

mental competency there is something far

more revealing going on than simply another

argument over the death penalty.

 

Four psychiatrists have interviewed and

tested Ross — and their opinions of him

couldn't be more divided. Two claim he is

intelligent and remorseful of his acts, and

two claim he is narcissistic and/or bipolar

and suicidal.

 

One psychiatrist says Ross is incompetent

because he suffers from " death-row syndrome. "

Another questions whether such a syndrome

even exists.

 

What should disturb most Americans — the

same Americans who have given psychiatrists

and their ilk tremendous influence over their

lives and those of their children — is the utter

lack of rigor here. These " diagnoses " aren't

similar. They are polar opposites — and are

likely far more about political ideology than

hard science.

 

Are you one of millions of Americans popping

ever more pills for ever more " syndromes? "

Has your competency been questioned by those

whose own competency ought to be questioned?

 

This case reveals volumes about the current

state of psychiatry — and none of it is

reassuring.

 

E-mail: ahlert

 

 

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