Posted by violette on July 25, 2010, at 11:51:59
In reply to Re: toxic crap » 49er, posted by SLS on July 25, 2010, at 11:08:32
"I am genuinely interested in knowing what alternatives you might suggest for people who suffer from Axis I mental illnesses that exclude drug treatment."
Another factor relevant to successful medication outcomes is that psychiatrists often don't account for Axis II traits (evidenced by prescribing medications as they do w/o adminstering psychological tests), which are very interlaced or overlap with Axis I issues; this is more relevant to the treatment resistant population as noted by literature. Anxiety and depression and psychosis are all symptoms that can be related to Axis I and Axis II issues. However, the Axis II criteria, or so it says, is only relevant to long-standing symptomology.
This is where the mental health system is deficient for those who have experienced mental illness for X number of years.
Really, I couldn't think of anyone who does not have some Axis II 'traits'..it's like astrology, the sun sign descriptions...though few, I'd suppose, would qualify for the actual Axis II 'disorders'. The DSM descriptions of those disorders only describe the extreme version of someone who'd be diagnosed as Axix II, and despite the continum, psychiatrist today ostensibly ignore Axis II issues if only medications are prescribed and a psychodynamic formulation is ommitted for the treatment plan.
Many insurance companies will not pay for treatment of Axis II disorders, therefore, people who have strong Axis II traits are given Axis I diagnoses by mental health professionals, which might adversely affect treatment. This system and stigma is truly a disserve to patients although well meaning on the part of psychiatrists.
Mental illness is mental illness regardless of the defining Axis. IMO, it's incredibly stupid (for the system) to segregate or differentiate the two and it is very stigmatizing.
No one really knows what PROPORTION of one's illness is 'biological' or 'psychological'. No one (does anyone know of how this can be proven by science today-how can anyone prove even with brain scans what proportion of the illness is caused by emotion??) At least I've never heard of the various scientists or psychological schools of thought agree on this or prove their particular conclusion in terms of disproving other views.
poster:violette
thread:955512
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20100720/msgs/955836.html