Posted by pseudoname on February 11, 2006, at 13:36:48
In reply to Thanks! (nm) » ed_uk, posted by pseudoname on February 11, 2006, at 13:09:12
Sorry, I can't resist. :)
Another possible reason the DIAGNOSIS RATE of mental illness may be rising:
Almost all other diseases are getting diagnosed effectively. So a doctor in 1900 might say (half-guessing) that his patient had "poor blood" or whatever. Today's doc knows tons more about blood and has super-excellent blood tests. She rules out all blood problems and is left to say (half-guessing) that her patient is depressed.
Another possible reason the ACTUAL INCIDENCE of mental illness may be rising:
Most other diseases are getting treated effectively. So, people who would've died from infections, injuries, diabetes, heart attacks, etc, are surviving long enough to develop mental illness. If people had lived longer in 1900, they might've developed mental illness at the same rate.
Hmmm. Is that flawed reasoning?
(PS: Not saying ADs & APs are off the hook.)
poster:pseudoname
thread:608339
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20060205/msgs/608663.html