The Myth Of Mental Illness - 957 Words

In 1961 Thomas Szasz penned a book by the title The Myth of Mental Illness that would go on to cause quite the stir in the world of psychiatry. In the book, Szasz stated his belief that what most psychiatrists would label as mental illnesses are in fact not illnesses at all, but instead what he would go on to call â€Å"problems in living.† This article will take a critical approach at Szasz reasons for his belief in these â€Å"problems in living† including an objective outline of his argument, a discussion on the validity of the argument and its’ premises, and finally the strongest objections to the argument. Szasz is an important figure in modern psychiatry and his opinions are very divisive but certainly worth discussing. Szasz’s most radical belief is undoubtedly his opinion that what many people practicing psychiatric medicine would call a mental illness is in fact not an illness as at all, going as far as to calling them â€Å"myths†. Szasz came to this conclusion because aside from certain diseases, including alzheimer s, that can be clinically proven, all other instances of â€Å"mental illness† are subjective. Szasz believed that in order for something to be labeled as a disease there must be a clinical correlation. The nature of disease, to Szasz, referred to a malfunction of the human body, easily identifiable and a disease needs to demonstrate a clear pathology at the cellular or molecular level. The nature of the mental, to Szasz, is concerned with what people do, the actionsShow MoreRelatedThe Myth Of Mental Illness750 Words   |  3 Pages During this semester in Psychology 201 one very interesting thing we covered was The Myth of Mental Illness by Thomas Szasz. In this book Szasz states that mental illness has no physiological change. He is not judgmental at all, and discusses the advantages to the patient and the doctor. I totally agree with Szasz on his belief that autism is not a mental illness although autism is treated as a mental illness. Thomas Szasz stated this about autism, â€Å"With the passing of the years, my earlier convictionRead MoreThe Myth of Mental Illness2711 Words   |  11 PagesThe Myth of Mental Illness Mental illness has existed since the dawn of humanity, but has since been perceived and understood in various ways. This essay will examine the contemporaryç  ¾Ã¤ » £Ã¤ º ºdefinition of mental illness and how the definition is shaped more by the contemporary society that creates it rather than by real experience and understanding of the state itself. Unavoidably, this examination of a largely misunderstood subject leads to an investigation of the societal and philosophical influencesRead MoreThe Myth Of Mental Illness By Thomas Szasz Summary1472 Words   |  6 PagesReview of Thomas Szasz. M.D.,The Myth Of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct. Thomas Szasz was one of the first psychiatrist to criticise psychiatry and argue about the concept of mental illness. His book â€Å"The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct† highlights the fundamental flaws in the administration of psychiatry, with the aim of challenging the medical characteristics of the concept of mental illness and the wrongful treatment of patientsRead MoreMental Illness781 Words   |  4 Pageshead: MENTAL ILLNESS Mental Illness Natalie Maxwell March 8, 2010 Each year, almost 44 million Americans experience a mental disorder. In fact, mental illnesses are among the most common conditions affecting health today. The good news is that most people who have mental illnesses, even serious ones, can lead productive lives with proper treatment (www.yahoo.com). Mental illnesses are some of the most misunderstand afflictions in today’s society. 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The stigma that comes from having a mental disorder such as, bi-polar depression, schizophrenia, or panic disorder comes with an enormous societal cost and can cause people not to talk about it. They may feel ashamed, embarrassed or fear stigma. Not seeking treatment causes people livingRead MoreAnorexia Nervosa: Nursing Interventions1326 Words   |  5 PagesAnorexia nervosa: Nursing interventions Anorexia nervosa has a higher mortality rate than any other psychological illness. Its primary clinical feature is extreme emaciation as a result of the patients refusal to maintain a healthy body weight. Weight loss may be achieved through caloric restriction or a combination of caloric restriction and purging behaviors (vomiting, laxatives, and exercise) (Understanding eating disorders, 2013, Australia Psychological Society). Besides self-starvation, otherRead MoreThe Portrayal Of An Issue Like Mental Illness1328 Words   |  6 PagesIt is easy for an audience to be manipulated by the media. The portrayal of an issue like mental illness is totally vulnerable to misrepresentation. Depending on who is writing and their viewpoint, it does not take much to make this issue sympathetic or demonized. If the author of a given piece wants his or her audience to demonize something, the author might use the word isolation†. If that same author wants a sympathetic response he might use the word loneliness†. As far as the New York TimesRead MoreThe Stigma Associated With Bipolar Disorder1448 Words   |  6 Pageseffects remain: often multiplied by individuals that have a limited understanding of the disorder. There are numerous myths related to individuals diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Hopefully a few of these myths will be put to rest after learning more about the disorder. What is bipolar disorder? As defined by the (NIMH 1), â€Å"Bipolar disorder, also known as manic-depressive illness, is a brain disorder that causes unusual shifts in mood, energy, activity levels, and the ability to carry out day-to-dayRead MoreClinical Diagnoses Of Bipolar Disorder1616 Words   |  7 Pagessymptoms that are related to mental illness have increased dramatically within the last several years, and treatment is becoming more specialized. But, unless you study these disorders, or have some degree in psychology, the basis of your knowledge of these disorders comes from media, movies and newspapers. Mass media is the public’s primary source for information so when they decide to present breaking news about some criminal felon who reportedly suffers from mental disorders such as bi-polar or