There Is No Such Thing as Mental Illness

Arguments, expert opinion and data against the myth of mental illness. From Freedomain Radio, the largest and most popular philosophy show on the web.

I am watching it now http://youtu.be/eOScYBwMyAAw

If anyone else watches it leave some comments to talk about.

Cold hard truth, I have been saying this for years. Especially the part when he talks about Nash, the movie "A Beautiful Mind" and how schizo is #######4 and a lie.

Did you know that (and the guy in video doesn't mention this) the American Psychiatric Association as well as Eli Lilly were founded by former SS getapo Nazis?

These #####& needs to be executed with extreme prejeduce.

I found that video a bit entertaining, but the title was misleading. It did not really argue against the concept of mental illness; it was arguing that psychiatry is pseudoscience and the treatment is bulls**t. I agree on that, but I would think it's incorrect to claim that mental illnesses do not exist. Empirical evidence is quite clear for their existence. It's just that they are very difficult to prove, show or describe with the same scientific tools as other illnesses.

For example, the entire thing about blood tests is pointless since the illness affects the brain. Diagnostic tools are difficult to develop in this case.

Also, yes, the studies are usually or always misleading and biased just like that guy said. Schizophrenics have been given drugs that cause the deviations in the brain. But that only means we cannot study or prove mental illnesses with those study designs. It is incorrect to jump to the conclusion that something doesn't exist simply because the studies fail.

I share the same view and think psychiatry is not an accurate science and that the drug treatments are most of the time worthless. But at the same time, this video was very biased and only using the arguments that support his case. And he did not really presents any facts; he just repeated controversial conclusions and quotes. There is lots of research that support the fact that mental illnesses exist. It is just not as clear-cut and conclusive as many people (especially the drug companies or doctors) would hope. But complex biological sciences rarely are.

*Sigh* You could study many real or somatic diseases without finding conclusive evidence. Does that mean they don't exist? Some time ago we could not prove the existence of cancer or heart diseases in a strict scientific manner. Back then we could have said "there is no such thing as heart diseases!"

ChristaAngel wrote:I found that video a bit entertaining, but the title was misleading. It did not really argue against the concept of mental illness; it was arguing that psychiatry is pseudoscience and the treatment is bulls**t. I agree on that, but I would think it's incorrect to claim that mental illnesses do not exist. Empirical evidence is quite clear for their existence. It's just that they are very difficult to prove, show or describe with the same scientific tools as other illnesses.

For example, the entire thing about blood tests is pointless since the illness affects the brain. Diagnostic tools are difficult to develop in this case.

Also, yes, the studies are usually or always misleading and biased just like that guy said. Schizophrenics have been given drugs that cause the deviations in the brain. But that only means we cannot study or prove mental illnesses with those study designs. It is incorrect to jump to the conclusion that something doesn't exist simply because the studies fail.

I share the same view and think psychiatry is not an accurate science and that the drug treatments are most of the time worthless. But at the same time, this video was very biased and only using the arguments that support his case. And he did not really presents any facts; he just repeated controversial conclusions and quotes. There is lots of research that support the fact that mental illnesses exist. It is just not as clear-cut and conclusive as many people (especially the drug companies or doctors) would hope. But complex biological sciences rarely are.

*Sigh* You could study many real or somatic diseases without finding conclusive evidence. Does that mean they don't exist? Some time ago we could not prove the existence of cancer or heart diseases in a strict scientific manner. Back then we could have said "there is no such thing as heart diseases!"

Horseshit, the video guy clearly states people go through troubles and distress and trauma. Which does not equate to mentall illness

P0ci wrote:Horseshit, the video guy clearly states people go through troubles and distress and trauma. Which does not equate to mentall illness

Actually, those things you mention are considered mental illnesses when they lead to dysfunctional behavior. Trauma has been proven or shown to cause temporary organic brain damage. Emotions and moods cause different electrical and chemical activity in the brain. If the video guy accepted those (I guess I missed that part...sorry), then he accepted mental illnesses.

What is your definition of a mental illness?

Or is this discussion more like "Yes, it is possible to feel sad and miserable...but no, that isn't a mental illness since it does not have a genetic component or a measurable biological cause."

Seems like terminology does sometimes interfere with our understandings of one another's beliefs. There are people who have schizophrenia who have structural abnormalities of the brain. There are also people with the same symptoms who do not have structural abnormalities. If we limit the diagnosis of schizophrenia to cases where we have radiographic evidence of structural abnormalities then we are acting like a true medical specialty. Instead of schizophrenia being a thought disorder it is an organic brain disorder.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFXX_A_Noik

ChristaAngel wrote:

P0ci wrote:Horseshit, the video guy clearly states people go through troubles and distress and trauma. Which does not equate to mentall illness

Actually, those things you mention are considered mental illnesses when they lead to dysfunctional behavior. Trauma has been proven or shown to cause temporary organic brain damage. Emotions and moods cause different electrical and chemical activity in the brain. If the video guy accepted those (I guess I missed that part...sorry), then he accepted mental illnesses.

What is your definition of a mental illness?

Or is this discussion more like "Yes, it is possible to feel sad and miserable...but no, that isn't a mental illness since it does not have a genetic component or a measurable biological cause."

Ohh plz don't gimme that crap. Now even being sad is considered a mentall illness. They are creating a new DSM that is filled with even more lies

I still haven't watched the whole thing,

Copy_Cat wrote:I still haven't watched the whole thing,

lol you didn't watch your own link?
I did hehe

P0ci, please try to be respectful.

P0ci wrote:Now even being sad is considered a mentall illness.

Christa stated that it wasn't just being sad, it was how it impacts your functioning.

ChristaAngel wrote:when they lead to dysfunctional behavior

Sure someone can be sad but able to get up out of bed, go to work and function like any other good society member. It's a lot different when a person is so sad that they literally do not get out of bed, even to go to the bathroom. There is a big difference there and one cannot deny that.