One thing critics of psychiatry and the medical model get wrong is the focus on stigma as a (or the) primary reason to not diagnose or to view the current way we diagnose as problematic.
It’s true that turning disabilities into “illnesses” and aspects of rich, meaningful
It’s true that turning disabilities into “illnesses” and aspects of rich, meaningful
experience can be stigmatizing and lead to greater oppression. There are examples of this, past and present. Increasing stigma against anyone who wasn’t straight by conceiving of being queer as a psychological disease or disorder is exhibit A. You can certainly see stigma
directed against people with diagnoses like borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia. This stigma is very real and should be addressed by reconceiving these diagnoses, how we describe them, how we diagnose, educating the public, etc.
But the story is more complex when you consider other diagnoses and when you recognize that many people with BPD or schizophrenia diagnoses do want a diagnosis, just one without the stigma.
I am also quite shocked by how rarely these debates involve substance use disorder or
I am also quite shocked by how rarely these debates involve substance use disorder or
alcohol use disorder, or alcoholism. Clearly many people in those communities are stigmatized and oppressed. But I don’t see them advocating to have us and them see, say, alcoholism as not an illness, disorder, or disease. Quite the contrary, they seem to argue (to sum up and
simplify) that it is necessary for society to see addiction as an illness, disorder, or disease to STOP stigma and reduce stigma.
So too many advocates for the ADHD and autism communities. Many advocates are quite clear that these diagnoses should be conceived of as medical
So too many advocates for the ADHD and autism communities. Many advocates are quite clear that these diagnoses should be conceived of as medical
disabilities. Now a disability isn’t quite the same thing as an illness, but are critics of psychiatry and the medical model CERTAIN on philosophical grounds that advocates from within the autism and ADHD communities are wrong that they should be viewed as having a medical
disability.
Indeed, I also see advocates for and members of the community of people with psychosis (mad pride communities) suggesting that they should be viewed as having a disability too.
Indeed, I also see advocates for and members of the community of people with psychosis (mad pride communities) suggesting that they should be viewed as having a disability too.
I think a lot can be said about stigma and these diagnoses. But I think it’s absolutely imperative to follow the lead of the oppressed communities here. I don’t see that the claim “diagnosing necessarily and universally causes stigma and never relieves it” as following the
lead of the communities seemingly most affected by psych diagnoses.
I am indebted to @DrRJChapman on these points and am curious if he agrees.
Also, I think there are criticisms of a strong medical model that are more valid, esp how such a model reifies overly bio explanations
I am indebted to @DrRJChapman on these points and am curious if he agrees.
Also, I think there are criticisms of a strong medical model that are more valid, esp how such a model reifies overly bio explanations
and leads away from psychological explanations, etc that I have tried to detail over many tweets.
Also, I’m happy to take this tweet down or revise if it is not stated in ways that are respectful to the various communities we’re discussing.
Also, I’m happy to take this tweet down or revise if it is not stated in ways that are respectful to the various communities we’re discussing.
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