Atheism is a "Challenging Psychiatric Condition"

I first heard the term, 'agnostic atheist ' on a chat show. British comedian/writer, Ricky Gervais told chatshow host, Stephen Colbert, "I am an agnostic atheist technically. Agnostic means, no one knows there’s a god so everyone is technically agnostic. We don’t know."

Gervais argued his points with such eloquence that even Colbert, a practising Catholic, commended him. However, there was no conclusion in this short debate because the fact is nobody knows for certain if there is or is not a "God."

This brings me to another topic this blog typically covers: the field of psychiatry. It's no mystery that psychiatry has built its house on a shaky foundation of sand. As the public increasingly sees this foundation eroding, the public is treated to new claims and official acknowledgements by "key opinion leaders." One more recent example is the official acknowledgement by the Royal College of Psychiatrists that they no longer believe in the chemical imbalance "theory." (Let's not mention that this "theory" originated not from scientific data but from the marketing department of major pharmaceutical companies.)

But today I don't want to discuss myths; I want to discuss a real story, that of Mubarak Bala (Pictured above). In 2014, Bala was a 29-year-old chemical process engineer living in Nigeria. Like Gervais, he also didn't believe in god. For sharing his personal views on religion, he was held in a secure psychiatric ward at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital after declaring himself an atheist. (1)

Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital

Bala was reportedly forced into the psychiatric unit after his family, who were staunch Muslims, declared him insane and sent him, against his will, for a psychiatric evaluation. Once there he was told he had "psychological problems that predate his renunciation of Islam." (2)

Bala was able to tweet from the hospital bathroom after he had smuggled a phone into the unit. The tweets are still available (3) and make for harrowing reading:

"This is Mubarak, (@mubarakbala) the Ex-Muslim from the Shari’ah State of Kano, Nigeria. I can only reach you today because I have been sedated (tranquillized) with an injection administered on those who are mentally unstable."

"Now, I woke up only to realize their new doctor has prescribed drugs and injections for me as a psycho patient.  It is the same Doctor that told me last week on a ‘mock’ therapy, that ‘everyone needs God.’"

"What I fear is; the injections and drugs have started shifting my facial orientation and affecting my speech and reasoning, my hands are now shivering on their own."

Human Rights organisations were quick off the mark and contacted the hospital. They were told Bala had a "challenging psychiatric condition which needed close treatment and supervision."

Many stories appeared in 2014 and after being held against his will for 18 days inside the locked unit, Bala was released. He was not given his freedom for the reasons one would expect. He was released because a doctors' strike precipitated the discharge of many patients. (4)

Last year, Bala, in an interview with Humanist Voices, said of his time in the unit, "I was drugged, by force. With drugs that were administered to psychotic and schizophrenic patients. Also, I was sedated which made me weak to fight back. Of the drugs given to me, were also found to be for epileptic patients. I was never epileptic. But it induced a lot of weird feelings that almost drove me crazy. I was there for 18 days. I tried to keep calm, earn their trust after, so I could be trusted with the drugs to take by myself, which I hid or threw away."

Like Gervais, I am an agnostic atheist technically. For the most part, I don't staunchly claim as fact beliefs for which there is no proof. It seems that psychiatrists do just that, however, given we frequently see the field of psychiatry making dangerous claims that are presented as factual, but not supported by credible data and/or scientific evidence.

We are now in 2019 and claims, without evidence, are still dished out by psychiatrists across the globe. Admittedly, I've not seen many stories of atheists like Bala who are incarcerated and drugged for their beliefs, but I have read testimonies from thousands of patients who received treatments similar to Bala's despite their protestations.

Gervais hit the nail on the head when using the science argument against the belief system of God. We could use his words to debate the belief system of psychiatry given the 'evidence' the field typically presents is called the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), a psychiatric bible written by mere mortals.

"Science is constantly proved all of the time. You see if we take something like any fiction, any holy book, and any other fiction and destroyed it, in a thousand years time that wouldn’t come back just as it was. Whereas if we took every science book and every fact and destroyed them all, in a thousand years they’d all be back because all the same tests would be the same result."

I'll leave the last words to Mubarak Bala, words that are echoed daily by other victims:

"What I fear is; the injections and drugs have started shifting my facial orientation and affecting my speech and reasoning, my hands are now shivering on their own."

Bob Fiddaman

References
(1) Nigerian Atheist Held in Psychiatric Ward
(2) Nigeria family forces atheist son into mental ward, lawyer says
(3) Nigerian atheist Mubarak Bala held hostage in a psychiatric ward for renouncing Islam and non-belief in God
(4) Nigeria atheist Bala freed from Kano psychiatric hospital

Related
Ecclesiastical and Pharmaceutical Risk-Benefit Calculations

Debunk & Disorderly - R to Z

Final instalment. They really went to town when deciding on disorders that start with the letter 'S'.
One has to remember that the following are all deemed as mental illnesses and all are, apparently 'treatable' with either talk or drugs.

Pay heed to the letter 'U'. It would appear that when you don't meet the full criteria, your prescriber gets a helping hand from those wacky APA Task Force members.

More sexual problems make the list of disorders again and also those who struggle with reading are also deemed to be 'abnormal'. Infants and children are targeted in this next block of disorders too.

Remember how the DSM once said homosexuality was a disorder but they later backtracked and removed it? APA Task Force members are now targeting transvestites.

Also, note how problems caused by medications are now deemed as disorders.

Which of the following disorders do you think is the most absurd?



R

RAD
reactive attachment disorder - a rare but serious condition in which an infant or young child doesn't establish healthy attachments

RD
relational disorder - persistent and painful patterns of feelings, behaviors, and perceptions among two or more people in an important personal relationship, such a husband and wife, or a parent and children

RD (2)
rumination disorder - an eating disorder in which a person -- usually an infant or young child -- brings back up and re-chews partially digested food that has already been swallowed. In most cases, the re-chewed food is then swallowed again; but occasionally, the child will spit it out

RD (3)
rett's disorder - a rare non-inherited genetic postnatal neurological disorder that occurs almost exclusively in girls and leads to severe impairments, affecting nearly every aspect of the child's life: their ability to speak, walk, eat, and even breathe easily

RD (4)
reading disorder - occurs when a person has trouble with any part of the reading process

S

SAD (1)
seasonal affective disorder - a mood disorder characterized by depression that occurs at the same time every year

SAD (2)
separation anxiety disorder - excessive worry and fear about being apart from family members or individuals to whom a child is most attached. Children with separation anxiety disorder fear being lost from their family or fear something bad happening to a family member if they are separated from them

SAD (3)
social anxiety disorder - a chronic mental health condition in which social interactions cause irrational anxiety

SAD (4)
sleep arousal disorder - common in children. Arousal does not mean that the child wakes-up. The “arousal” is a partial arousal usually from “deep” sleep also called “slow-wave sleep”. Most commonly the child transitions from deep sleep to a mixture of very light sleep and/or partial wakefulness. This stage shift will commonly lead to a confusional state or a “confusional arousal

SAD (5)
sexual aversion disorder - one of two sexual desire disorders in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and is defined as a "persistent or recurrent extreme aversion to, and avoidance of, all or almost all, genital sexual contact with a sexual partner

SCD
social (pragmatic) communication disorder - SCD encompasses problems with social interaction, social understanding and pragmatics. Pragmatics refers to using language in proper context

SD
schizophreniform disorder - a mental disorder diagnosed when symptoms of schizophrenia are present for a significant portion of the time within a one-month period, but signs of disruption are not present for the full six months required for the diagnosis of schizophrenia

SSD
somatic symptom disorder - a form of mental illness that causes one or more bodily symptoms, including pain. ... The symptoms can involve one or more different organs and body systems, such as: Pain. Neurologic problems. Gastrointestinal complaints

SDNos
somatoform disorder NOS - a psychiatric diagnosis used for conditions that do not meet the full criteria for the other somatoform disorders, but have physical symptoms that are misinterpreted or exaggerated with resultant impairment

SHAUD
sedative, hypnotic, or anxiolytic use disorder - a condition characterized by the harmful consequences of repeated use of sedative-like drugs, a pattern of compulsive use of sedative-like drugs, and (sometimes) physiological dependence on sedative-like drugs (i.e., tolerance and/or withdrawal)

SLD
specific learning disorder -  a disorder that interferes with a student's ability to listen, think, speak, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations. Students with a specific learning disability may struggle with reading, writing, or math

SMISD
substance or medication-induced sleep disorder - the official diagnostic name for insomnia and other sleep problems which are caused by the use of alcohol, drugs, or taking certain medications

SMIMMND
substance/medication-induced major or mild neurocognitive disorder - mild neurocognitive disorder due to substance/medication use and major neurocognitive disorder due to substance/medication use are the diagnostic names for two alcohol- or drug-induced major neurocognitive disorders― "major" obviously being the more severe form

SMD
stereotypic movement disorder - a motor disorder with onset in childhood involving repetitive, nonfunctional motor behavior (e.g., hand waving or head banging), that markedly interferes with normal activities or results in bodily injury

SUD
substance use disorder - occurs when a person's use of alcohol or another substance (drug) leads to health issues or problems at work, school, or home

SUD (2)
stimulant use disorder - include stimulant intoxication, stimulant withdrawal, and stimulant use disorder. They result from abuse of a class of medications known as stimulants, which include a wide range of drugs such as amphetamines, methamphetamine, and cocaine

SPD
schizoid personality disorder - a personality disorder characterized by a lack of interest in social relationships, a tendency towards a solitary or sheltered lifestyle, secretiveness, emotional coldness, detachment, and apathy

SPD (2)
shared psychotic disorder - a rare delusional disorder shared by 2 or, occasionally, more people with close emotional ties. ... Two people share the same delusion or delusional system and support one another in this belief. They have an unusually close relationship

SPD (3)
specific phobia disorder - a type of anxiety disorder defined as an extreme, irrational fear of or aversion to something

SSD
speech sound disorder - a communication disorder in which children have persistent difficulty saying words or sounds correctly

SRAD
substance-related and addictive disorder - a craving for, the development of a tolerance to, and difficulties in controlling the use of a particular substance or a set of substances, as well as withdrawal syndromes upon abrupt cessation of substance use

SMS
sexual masochism disorder - the condition of experiencing recurring and intense sexual arousal in response to enduring moderate or extreme pain, suffering, or humiliation

SSD
sexual sadism disorder - the condition of experiencing sexual arousal in response to the extreme pain, suffering or humiliation of others

SSRD
somatic symptom and related disorder - mental health disorders characterized by an intense focus on physical (somatic) symptoms that causes significant distress and/or interferes with daily functioning

STD
sleep terror disorder - episodes of screaming, intense fear and flailing while still asleep. Also known as night terrors, sleep terrors often are paired with sleepwalking. Like sleepwalking, sleep terrors are considered a parasomnia — an undesired occurrence during sleep

SWD
sleep-wake disorder - occur when the body's internal clock does not work properly or is out of sync with the surrounding environment

SWD (2)
sleepwalking disorder - a behavior disorder that originates during deep sleep and results in walking or performing other complex behaviors while asleep. It is much more common in children than adults and is more likely to occur if a person is sleep deprived

SZA
schizoaffective disorder - a chronic mental health condition characterized primarily by symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations or delusions, and symptoms of a mood disorder, such as mania and depression

T

TD
tic disorder - defined as repeated, sudden, rapid, nonrhythmic muscle movements including sounds or vocalizations. Tourette syndrome is diagnosed when people have had both motor and vocal tics for > 1 yr

TD (2)
transvestic disorder - cross-dressing, or dressing in the clothes of the opposite gender, to become sexually aroused. It must occur over a period of at least 6 months

TD (3)
tourette's disorder - a neurological disorder characterized by repetitive, stereotyped, involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics

TUD
tobacco use disorder - the most common substance use disorder in the United States. ... Nicotine is the primary addictive substance in tobacco; however other chemicals likely increase the addiction risk. Tobacco use appears to have an addictive / dependence potential at least equal to that of other drugs

U

UAD
unspecified anxiety disorder - used when there are anxiety-like symptoms that cause significant distress or impaired functioning. However, there is insufficient information to determine what particular type of Anxiety Disorder may be present

UDD
unspecified depressive disorder - category applies to presentations in which symptoms characteristic of a depressive disorder that cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning predominate but do not meet the full criteria for any of the disorders in the depressive disorders diagnostic class

UOCRD
unspecified obsessive-compulsive and related disorder - presentations characterized by OCD features that cause significant distress or impairment, but which do not meet the full criteria

USD
undifferentiated somatoform disorder - occurs when a person has physical complaints for more than six months that cannot be attributed to a medical condition

V

VD
voyeurism disorder - this disorder refers to (for over a period of at least 6 months) having recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving the act of observing an unsuspecting person who is naked, in the process of disrobing, or engaging in sexual activity


Bob Fiddaman

Previously

A to C

D to F

G to L

Debunk & Disorderly - M to P

The widening of the net continues. Previous posts at the foot of this post.


M

MDD
major depressive disorder - a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities

MFMD
major frontotemporal neurocognitive disorder -  uncommon disorder that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain — the areas generally associated with personality, behavior and language

MHSDD
male hypoactive sexual desire disorder - considered a sexual dysfunction and is characterized as a lack or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity

MND
major neurocognitive disorder - a decline in mental ability severe enough to interfere with independence and daily life

MNDWLB
major neurocognitive disorder with lewy bodies - the second most common type of degenerative dementia following Alzheimer's disease (AD). DLB is clinically and pathologically related to Parkinson's disease (PD) and PD dementia, and the three disorders can be viewed as existing on a spectrum of Lewy body disease.

MNDPD
major neurocognitive disorder due to parkinson’s disease
See MNDWLB

MVND
major vascular neurocognitive disorder - Vascular neurocognitive disorder is a common form of dementia. It is diagnosed in between 15-30% of all people who are diagnosed with dementia. Other names for this disorder include vascular dementia, vascular cognitive impairment and multi-infarct dementia

N

NES
night eating syndrome - a condition that combines overeating at night with sleep problems

ND
nightmare disorder - also known as dream anxiety disorder, is a sleep disorder characterized by frequent nightmares

NDD
neurodevelopmental disorders -  a group of disorders in which the development of the central nervous system is disturbed. This can include developmental brain dysfunction, which can manifest as neuropsychiatric problems or impaired motor function, learning, language or non-verbal communication

NPD
narcissistic personality disorder -  a personality disorder with a long-term pattern of abnormal behavior characterized by exaggerated feelings of self-importance, excessive need for admiration, and a lack of empathy

O

OCD
obsessive-compulsive disorder - a common, chronic and long-lasting disorder in which a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that he or she feels the urge to repeat over and over

OCPD
obsessive-compulsive personality disorder - despite having similar names and symptoms, OCD and OCPD are distinct forms of mental illness that have unique and specific characteristics. The main difference is that OCD is designated in the DSM within its own category called Obsessive-Compulsive and related disorders, while OCPD is considered a personality disorder.

ODD
oppositional defiant disorder - a type of behavior disorder. It is mostly diagnosed in childhood. Children with ODD are uncooperative, defiant, and hostile toward peers, parents, teachers, and other authority figures

OUD
opioid use disorder - patients presenting with an opioid use disorder may appear acutely intoxicated, in opioid withdrawal, or show no acute effects related to their opioid use

P

PAD
persisting amnestic disorder - the amnestic disorders are a group of disorders that involve loss of memories previously established, loss of the ability to create new memories or loss of the ability to learn new information

PBD
pediatric bipolar disorder - one of the more contentious issues in children’s mental health involves pediatric bipolar disorder (BD).  We now know that when BD presents in children, it tends to be a severe form of the illness.  But children who have been diagnosed with pediatric bipolar disorder (BD) may, in fact, have different illnesses requiring different treatments.

PCBD
persistent complex bereavement disorder - a disorder for those who are significantly and functionally impaired by prolonged grief symptoms for at least one month after six months of bereavement

PD
phobic disorder - intense, persistent, and recurrent fears of certain objects (such as snakes, spiders, or blood) or situations (like heights, speaking in front of a group, and public places). These things may trigger a panic attack. Social phobia and agoraphobia are examples of phobic disorders

PD (2)
pica disorder - an eating disorder that involves eating items that are not typically thought of as food and that do not contain significant nutritional value, such as hair, dirt, and paint chips

PDD
persistent depressive disorder - a low mood occurring for at least two years, along with at least two other symptoms of depression.

PDD (2)
pervasive developmental disorder - a group of disorders characterized by delays in the development of socialization and communication skills. Parents may note symptoms as early as infancy, although the typical age of onset is before 3 years of age.

PDD (3)
premenstrual dysphoric disorder - a health problem that is similar to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) but is more serious. PMDD causes severe irritability, depression, or anxiety in the week or two before your period starts

PPD
paranoid personality disorder -  one of a group of conditions called "Cluster A" personality disorders which involve odd or eccentric ways of thinking. People with PPD also suffer from paranoia, an unrelenting mistrust and suspicion of others, even when there is no reason to be suspicious

PTED
post-traumatic embitterment disorder - a pathological reaction to drastic life events and has the tendency not to stop. The trigger is an extraordinary although common negative life event as for example divorce, dismissal, personal insult or vilification

PTSD
post-traumatic stress disorder - a disorder in which a person has difficulty recovering after experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event

PUD
phencyclidine use disorder - this disorder is given to people who are experiencing problems as a result of using a group of substances called phencyclidines, or substances which are pharmacologically similar to them, such as ketamine


To be continued...


Bob Fiddaman


Previously

A to C

D to F

G to L

Debunk & Disorderly - G to L

Continuing on from my previous two posts.

All the following are 'mental health disorders', or are claimed to be mental health disorders by the Task Force of the DSM 5.



G

GAD
generalized anxiety disorder - severe, ongoing anxiety that interferes with daily activities

GD
gambling disorder - a persistent and recurrent problematic gambling behavior leading to clinically significant impairment or distress

GID
gender identity disorder (gender dysphoria) - an individual exhibits marked and persistent identification with the opposite sex and persistent discomfort (dysphoria) with his or her own sex or sense of inappropriateness in the gender role of that sex


H

HD
hoarding disorder - a persistent difficulty discarding or parting with possessions because of a perceived need to save them

HD (2)
hypersomnolence disorder - characterized by recurrent episodes of excessive daytime sleepiness or prolonged nighttime sleep

HPD
histrionic personality disorder - defined by the American Psychiatric Association as a personality disorder characterized by a pattern of excessive attention-seeking emotions, usually beginning in early adulthood, including inappropriately seductive behavior and an excessive need for approval

HPD (2)
hair-pulling disorder - a mental disorder classified under Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders and involves recurrent, irresistible urges to pull hair from the scalp, eyebrows, eyelids, and other areas of the body

HPPD
hallucinogen persisting perception disorder - a disorder in which a person has flashbacks of visual hallucinations or distortions experienced during a previous hallucinogenic drug experience


I

IAD
internet addiction disorder -  also known as problematic internet use or pathological internet ..... A subcategory of IAD, Internet gaming disorder is listed in DSM-5 as a condition that requires more research in order to be considered as a full disorder

ICDNoS
impulse-control disorder NOS - individuals who fall under Impulse-Control Disorder NOS do not meet any of the criteria for the above disorders or any of the other impulse control disorders in the DSM-IV-TR. (eg. substance abuse, paraphilias). Some common impulse-control disorders in this category include impulsive sexual behaviors, pathological skin picking, self-mutilation, and compulsive shopping. Those with sexual impulses often are promiscuous, show compulsive masturbation, show a compulsive use phone sex lines and/or pornography, and often show pornography dependence

IED
intermittent explosive disorder - a behavioral disorder characterized by explosive outbursts of anger and violence, often to the point of rage, that are disproportionate to the situation at hand

ID
insomnia disorder - a sleep disorder that is characterized by difficulty falling and/or staying asleep

IGD
internet gaming disorder - most common in male adolescents 12 to 20 years of age. According to studies it is thought that Internet Gaming Disorder is more prevalent in Asian countries than in North America and Europe. Internet Gaming Disorder is a “Condition for Further Study” in the DSM-5 (APA 2013).  This means that it is not an "official" disorder in the DSM, but one on which the American Psychiatric Association request additional research.

IUD
inhalant use disorder -  a problem that can develop when people deliberately breathe in the fumes of various substances


L

LD
language disorder - an individual's expressive language may be severely impaired, while his receptive language is hardly impaired at all. More specifically, according to the DSM-5, deficits in comprehension or production can include the following: Reduced vocabulary (word knowledge and use)


To be continued...

Bob Fiddaman

A to C

D to F

Debunk & Disorderly - D to F

Continuing from yesterday. Pay particular attention to the 'disorders' beginning with the letter 'F'.

Do members of the APA Task Force watch porn movies before raising their, ahem... hands?

D


DCD
developmental coordination disorder -  a motor skills disorder that affects five to six percent of all school-aged children

DD
delusional disorder - a generally rare mental illness in which the patient presents delusions, but with no accompanying prominent hallucinations, thought disorder, mood disorder

DDD
depersonalization/derealization disorder - involves a persistent or recurring feeling of being detached from one's body or mental processes

DID
dissociative identity disorder - a disorder characterized by the presence of two or more distinct personality states

DMDD
disruptive mood dysregulation disorder - a childhood condition of extreme irritability, anger, and frequent, intense temper outbursts

DICCD
disruptive, impulse-control, and conduct disorder -  combines oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), and disruptive behavior disorder not otherwise specified (DBDNOS) with disorders in the “Impulse-Control Disorders Not Otherwise Specified” chapter


E

ED
excoriation disorder - a mental illness related to obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is characterized by repeated picking at one's own skin

ED (2)
exhibitionistic disorder - a condition marked by the urge, fantasy, or act of exposing one's genitals to non-consenting people, particularly strangers

EDNOS
eating disorder not otherwise specified - applied when an individual’s symptoms cause significant distress but do not fit neatly within the strict criteria for anorexia, bulimia, avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder or binge eating disorder

F

FD
factitious disorder - a mental disorder in which a person acts as if he or she has a physical or mental illness when, in fact, he or she has consciously created the symptoms (Important question here)

FD (2)
frotteuristic disorder - the act of touching or rubbing one's genitals up against another person in a sexual manner without their consent

FD (3)
fetishistic disorder -  characterized as a condition in which there is a persistent and repetitive use of or dependence on nonliving objects (such as undergarments or high-heeled shoes) or a highly specific focus on a body part (most often nongenital, such as feet) to reach sexual arousal

FHSDD
female hypoactive sexual desire disorder - a deficiency or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity that causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty

FSAD
female sexual arousal disorder - a disorder characterized by a persistent or recurrent inability to attain sexual arousal or to maintain arousal until the completion of a sexual activity

FOD
female orgasmic disorder - refers to difficulty reaching orgasm. It may take a woman with FOD longer to have an orgasm


To be continued...

G - L


Bob Fiddaman

Debunk & Disorderly - A to C

debunk - to expose the sham
disorder - abnormal physical or mental condition

I've been reading the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) and it struck me that disorder is such a vile word. The DSM 5 mentions the word no less than 1,377 times with references to various illnesses and subsets of illnesses, the majority of which are just downright laughable. Then again, most know how these illnesses are arrived at, and for those that don't, here's a good place to start. In brief, in the 1800s  seven categories of mental health were distinguished: mania, melancholia, monomania, paresis, dementia, dipsomania, and epilepsy. By 1952 the first edition of the DSM was written. Fast forward to the year 2000 and work began on the fifth version. It's a bit like a movie franchise that keeps churning out follow-ups. Jaws, Jaws II, Jaws III etc.

I don't know who came up with the title of the book (manual) but it clearly shows how people with problems in their life are seen by the American Psychiatric Association, who create task forces to update each version of the DSM. They do this by a show of hands. For example, all the problems below were voted into existence. No tests were carried out, just discussion. The list below isn't all of the 'disorders' that have been voted on and some are subtypes of 'disorders' already in place. Be sure to click on each disorder for a description of what it means, or what the APA task force wants you to believe it means.

Most of the 'disorders' can and should be debunked as nothing but the imagination of white privileged gentlemen who want to impress their peers, moreover, want to keep the sham going. One has to bear in mind that all the 'disorders' below are alleged mental problems and all, according to the field of psychiatry, are manageable with 'treatment.' There's an awful amount of brain pellets ready to be prescribed, folks. Contrast the 7 disorders that were agreed upon in the 1800s with the modern-day (DSM-5) list below. For example, there are now 10 'disorders', but those are just the ones that begin with the letter 'A'. You and/or someone you know may just be abnormal.

--

A

AD
adjustment disorder - the presence of emotional or behavioral symptoms in response to an identifiable stressor(s) occurring within 3 months of the onset of the stressor(s)

ADD
attention deficit disorder - a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development

ADHD
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
(See ADD)

ARFID
avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder - an eating or feeding disturbance (e.g., apparent lack of interest in eating or food; avoidance based on the sensory characteristics of food

ASD
autism spectrum disorder - persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts

ASD
acute stress disorder - the diagnosis of ASD can only be considered from 3 days to one month following a traumatic event (commonly referred to as the acute phase).

ASPD
antisocial personality disorder - a person with ASPD may present "with psychopathic features" if he or she exhibits "a lack of anxiety or fear and a bold, efficacious interpersonal style

ATSUD
amphetamine-type substance use disorder - a person who takes a substance in larger amounts and/or over a longer period than the patient intended.

AUD
alcohol use disorder - alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence, into a single disorder called alcohol use disorder (AUD) with mild, moderate, and severe sub-classifications.

AvPD
avoidant personality disorder - a pervasive pattern of social inhibition, feelings of inadequacy, and hypersensitivity to negative evaluation

B

BD
bipolar disorder - a lifelong illness. Episodes of mania and depression eventually can occur again if you don't get treatment

BD1
bipolar disorder I - involves periods of severe mood episodes from mania to depression.

BD2
bipolar disorder II - a milder form of mood elevation, involving milder episodes of hypomania that alternate with periods of severe depression

BDD
body dysmorphic disorder - a relatively common mental health condition in which a person experiences excessive anxiety about a perceived defect in their physical appearance

BED
binge eating disorder - a treatable eating disorder characterized by recurrent episodes of eating large quantities of food

BPD
borderline personality disorder - a mental health disorder that impacts the way you think and feel about yourself and others

BPD (2)
brief psychotic disorder - an uncommon psychiatric condition characterized by sudden and temporary periods of psychotic behavior

BP-NOS
bipolar disorder not otherwise specified - may be used when symptoms are consistent with bipolar disorder but fall short of a definitive diagnosis

C

CD
cognitive disorder - a category of mental health disorders that primarily affect cognitive abilities

CD (2)
conduct disorder - a serious behavioral and emotional disorder that can occur in children and teens

CIAD
caffeine-induced anxiety disorder -  a psychiatric disorder linked to the aggravation and maintenance of anxiety disorders, and the initiation of panic or anxiety attacks in those who are already predisposed to such phenomena

CISD
caffeine-induced sleep disorder - a psychiatric disorder that results from overconsumption of the stimulant caffeine

CRSD
circadian rhythm sleep disorder - a family of sleep disorders which affect the timing of sleep.

COFD
childhood-onset fluency disorder -  stuttering — also called stammering or childhood-onset fluency disorder — is a speech disorder that involves frequent and significant problems with normal fluency and flow of speech

CUD
cannabis use disorder - problematic marijuana use

CUD (2)
cocaine use disorder - problematic cocaine use

To be continued...


Bob Fiddaman


D-F

G-L

Is This The World We Created?

You know that every day a helpless child is born

Who needs some loving care inside a happy home

Somewhere a wealthy man is sitting on his throne

Waiting for life to go by.

Is this the world we created?

We made it on our own.

Is this the world we devastated

Right to the bone?

If there's a God in the sky looking down,

What can he think of what we've done

To the world that He created?

'Is This The World We Created?'

Mercury, May

I'm dumbfounded and disappointed at recent events in the business of psychiatry. Why is the blindingly obvious ignored or downplayed by people in positions of power-positions that could be used to save human suffering and lives?

This isn't intended to target psychiatrist and Royal College of Psychiatrists spokesperson, Carmine Pariante. I've been pleasantly surprised that in recent weeks Pariante has been open for civil discussion shown on Twitter.He appears to understand the need for informed consent and has even suggested that drug safety advocates work alongside psychiatry. I have to give him a hearty round of applause for not taking the stance many psychiatrists take on Twitter. That is, they cry "pill-shaming" when a victim of "antidepressant" ADRs speaks out. Others simply block patient advocates who share research and experiences via Twitter.  (See ~ Who's Hiding the Clinical Trial Benefits of Antidepressants?)

However, what I do take umbrage with is Pariante's recent stance on an article I sent to him via his Twitter feed. The article, from journalist, Kirstie Brewer, was featured on the BBC website and entitled, 'I was suicidal - the NHS didn't know what to do with me'.

It's important to click on the link (here) to review this article as it is the same link I sent to Pariante asking if he thought it was possibly drug related? (1)

(1)

Notice my use of the word 'possibly' in the tweet. I wasn't categorically stating that the young woman featured in the article had attempted suicide because of the meds she was prescribed since age 13. (After re-reading the article, I learned that she was 13 and not 11.) I was just opening a dialogue about ADRs and causation. However, in this instance, it seemed Pariante didn't want to play ball with me. (2) (3) (4)

(2)

(3)

(4)

I was dumbfounded that Pariante wouldn't even entertain the possibility that the young woman featured in the article could have been suffering from psychosis as a result of the drugs she had been prescribed from a young age. Instead, he shifted the conversation suggesting that neither he or I knew any clinical details regarding this young woman. That may be so but here's some selective text taken from the article that begs the question, "What is Pariante failing to see here?" The relevant points are in bold font.

It was the ninth time in the space of 10 days that Sherry Denness had tried to kill herself. "It felt like checkmate - there were no open doors or other ways for my life to turn, I just wanted to die," she says.

Only just 18, Sherry has been diagnosed with a number of mental health conditions, including borderline personality disorder (BPD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

On seven of her nine suicide attempts, which took place in November last year, the teenager had landed in A&E, been patched up and deemed well enough to be sent home with no further help. Another time she'd taken all of her prescribed medication in one go and ended up in critical care for two days. 

"I was psychotic and I was hearing Kieran in my head telling me I need to leave the house." Kieran is one of the voices Sherry hears - the worst one, she says.

She was 11 when she was first assessed by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs.) Eventually, at 13, she was given treatment for ADHD.

"I have been to A&E a lot of times for self-harm and suicide attempts", Sherry Says.

With all these references in plain sight, I find it remarkable and quite telling that Pariante refuses to accept the 'possibility' that her deterioration might be drug-related.

Let's take a look at a research study (SSRI - Induced Extrapyramidal Side-Effects And Akathisia Implications for Treatment) from almost 20 years ago. It was authored by Roger Lane and featured in J Psychopharmacol.1998;12(2):192-214.review. 

A note of interest here: Between 1992 - 2001 Roger Lane was the Senior Medical Director at Pfizer. Today he is the Vice President, Clinical Development Neurology for Ionis Pharmaceuticals.

Lane wrote:

“It has been suggested that SSRI-induced akathisia may be associated with the emergence of ego-dystonic suicidality (Lipinski et al., 1989: Rothschild and Locke, 1991: Hamilton and Opler, 1992). The most consistent factor implicated in these anecdotal accounts of rare adverse reactions involving suicidal ideation and behavior during fluoxetine treatment was the development of akathisia with agitation, restlessness and dysphoria (Power and Cowen, 1992).”

“It may be less of a question of patients experiencing fluoxetine-induced suicidal ideation, than patients feeling that ‘death is a welcome result’ when the acutely discomforting symptoms of akathisia are experienced on top of already distressing disorders."

During the 20 years in which this word, 'Akathisia' was mentioned, there have been many deaths by suicide whilst patients have been on prescription drugs. On one side of the fence, we have psychiatrists who claim that the SSRI/akathisia link is not proven despite the research and causation admission noted above. On the other side, we have loved ones whose family members, including children and young adults, have had psychotic reactions to SSRIs that precipitated unimaginably violent deaths.

When faced with possibilities of causation, Pariante should be stepping up to the plate and looking into SSRI-induced psychosis. He should, at the very least, acknowledge the possibility that these drugs can and do precipitate psychosis and death for unsuspecting ADR victims.

Last year the subject of drug-induced akathisia was highlighted in Chicago in the case of Dolin Vs GSK. The transcripts and trial exhibits have now been made public for more than a year (See the right-hand side of this blog). During the trial, it was learned that the victim, Stewart Dolin, leaped to his death because he was suffering from drug-induced akathisia. After a 6-week long trial, the jury found for the plaintiff, Stewart's wife, Wendy. They carefully reached this verdict after hearing 6 weeks of evidence presented by both Dolin and GSK.

Another active Twitter psychiatrist is Duncan Double. Double disputes that SSRIs can induce akathisia and after sending him a link to the Dolin transcripts and trial exhibits he had this to say:

"Legal judgment is not necessarily the same as scientific fact."

Upon informing him, the jury sat through six weeks of evidence Double remarkably replied:

"One doesn’t know which bit of evidence the jury based its decision on."

I told him good jury's don't base a decision on one bit of evidence, they base it on all.

Hours later, Double tweeted:

Nice, and kind of big of the man to state that he was wrong. This, however, didn't last for long as later in the day he bizarrely stated, "I’d still like to debate whether I might  be right."

So, just two instances of psychiatry at work here.

I'm not definitively claiming that the young woman featured in the BBC news article tried to take her life because the "drugs made her do it." There may be other mitigating circumstances. You see, I'm open to other possibilities whereas, it appears, Pariante and Double are not, despite Pfizer's own scientist stating, "death is a welcome result’ when the acutely discomforting symptoms of akathisia are experienced."

I wrote a book back in 2011 called, "The Evidence, However, is Clear." It would appear I was wrong because, for some, the evidence is invisible. Yet sometimes we find ADR evidence that was unwittingly documented by people who are no longer visible but speak from the dead. I'm talking about a diary kept by a young woman who, just like the young woman featured in the BBC article, was harmed by a medical field whose diagnoses are largely based on guesswork.

Natalie Gehrki was just a year older than the woman featured in the BBC article noted above. There are striking similarities between both, and we can learn much from the experiences of each young woman. Natalie was prescribed the SSRI, Zoloft, NOT for "depression." She never received any specific diagnosis at the time of her death. Doctors who are unfamiliar with akathisia and serotonin toxicity often don't take the correct steps to stop it. Natalie died less than two days after her doctor increased Zoloft-over the phone to the maximum legal dose allowable, 200mgs.

There are many more Natalie's out there, some dead and some still alive. We owe it to them to warn of akathisia. If two publically renowned psychiatrists won't discuss SSRI-induced akathisia and the necessary steps to prevent akathisia & SSRI deaths, we must rely on teenagers with first-person insight and no conflicts of interest.

Dr. Oz's Fantasy World

On a related note, last week Dr. Oz ran a show that was supposed to be a serious examination of the connection between drugs and violence. It was shockingly bias and omitted critical information. Natalie's mom, Kristina, was one of many viewers who wrote to the Dr. Oz producer. Her letter is beneath the video.

Here's Natalie.

And here's Natalie's mother, Kristina, writing to the producer of the Dr. Oz show.

Dear Ms. Varney,

I'm writing to express my shock and dismay regarding Dr. Oz's recent show about drugs & violence. As a trained journalist, I expected a variety of experts would discuss reliable data, relevant pharma documents, legal cases and consumers' reported ADR experiences. Instead, I quickly learned your panel of three  "experts" all had ethical &/or financial conflicts of interest. While Dr. Oz casually and promptly glossed over these conflicts, declaring conflicts of interest does not remove these conflicts of interest.

I waited in vain to hear from experts with opposing viewpoints to the pharma-connected panel. But few of these experts were featured and those that were received minimal air time. This includes Wendy Dolin, founder of MISSD. When you flashed on the screen the 3 million settlement a jury awarded for her husband's prescribed Paxil death, it was misleading and offensive. Not only has Ms. Dolin not received a penny from GSK after the jury's wrongful death award, it was beyond the pale to flash a cash amount on the screen. Such sensationalized antics are akin to a sordid game-show gimmick.

Given your producers felt this financial info was necessary for viewers to know, I pose the question: Why didn't you similarly treat your panel in the same manner? When Dr. Oz was glossing over conflicts of interest; you could have visually informed your viewers of the amount of money each panel member has already taken from pharma. Your slanted, one-sided journalism has been the topic of much negative discussion on many social media feeds. But even if the public didn't notice the appalling bias, as a producer you should have recognized such before airing.

Lastly, aside from a professional and academic background in journalism and crisis communication, I am the mother of a 19-year-old daughter whose death was precipitated by another SSRI (Zoloft). Medical experts determined Natalie was suffering from prescribed akathisia and serotonin toxicity prior to her death. After death blood tests showed she could not efficiently metabolize SSRI toxins. Her prescribed tragedy is found at https://rxisk.org/kidnapped-natalies-story/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1haYwZGcSRY 

Your irresponsible journalism was a disservice to public health and safety. Undoubtedly, it will cause avoidable suffering and more ADR-related deaths. Nothing can change the damage caused by the show you produced. Nevertheless, you have an ethical obligation to apologize and air a follow-on show that transparently shares unbiased accurate data in a fair and balanced manner.

Regards,
Kristina Gehrki

--

Bob Fiddaman

Donald Trump - The Role of Psychiatry

I'm not into politics, particularly American politics. I've often laughed at the whole election process over there. Obscene amounts of money thrown at huge campaigns, even rock stars get in on the act in efforts to persuade their fans who to vote for. Here in the UK it's very low key. On the odd occasion, we may see a minor scuffle outside a polling station on a damp and dreary Thursday ~ It's nothing compared to the firework displays and live bands performing for our American counterparts.

So, if I'm not into politics why am I using my free time on a Sunday to write a blog about Donald Trump?

Well, I'm finding him very interesting. I can't weigh him up though. I know he has a disdain for journalists and I know he tweets a lot. His tweets are causing concern for many as are his speeches, so much so that a number of mental health professionals are claiming that Trump’s speeches and actions make him incapable of serving safely as president. They claim that Trump is showing 'grave emotional instability.'

In a letter to the New York Times, no less than 35 health care professionals, led by Lance Dodes, M.D., claim that:

(Donald Trump's) actions demonstrate an inability to tolerate views different from his own, leading to rage reactions. His words and behavior suggest a profound inability to empathize. Individuals with these traits distort reality to suit their psychological state.

Let's take a look at this closer by using the Merck Manual of personality disorders.

According to the 35 health care professionals, Trump is showing:

- grave emotional instability - Another term for this, I guess, could be 'emotionally detached.'
- profound inability to empathize -

Schizotypal personality disorder
People with schizotypal personality disorder are emotionally detached. In addition, they have odd ways of thinking, perceiving, and communicating similar to those of people with schizophrenia. Odd ways of thinking may include magical thinking and paranoid ideas. In magical thinking, people believe that their thoughts or actions can control something or someone. For example, people may believe that they can harm others by thinking angry thoughts. People with paranoid ideas tend to be suspicious and mistrustful and wrongfully think other people have hostile motives or intend to harm them. Schizotypal personality disorder may be treated with antipsychotic drugs.

Fair to say that Trump, if the 35 professionals assessment of him is correct, would meet the criteria for someone having Schizotypal personality disorder.

But wait, there's more from the Merck Manual:

Antisocial personality disorder
Many people with antisocial personality disorder become frustrated easily and tolerate frustration poorly. As a result, they act impulsively and irresponsibly, sometimes committing criminal acts. In these cases, they act without considering the negative consequences of their behavior and the problems or harm they cause others. There are no medications specifically approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat antisocial personality disorder. Doctors may prescribe medications for conditions sometimes associated with antisocial personality disorder, such as anxiety or depression, or for symptoms of aggression

Furthermore:

Narcissistic personality disorder
This type is characterized by an inflated view of self-worth (called grandiosity). People with this disorder expect to be treated with deference and may exploit others because they think their superiority justifies it. Their relationships are characterized by a need for admiration, and they often think that others are jealous of or envy them. These people are sensitive to the reactions of others but only as far as the reactions relate to themselves. They are extremely sensitive to failure, defeat, and negative reactions from others, including criticism. Such reactions from others can trigger sudden rages or depression (including suicidal thoughts or actions). There are no medications specifically used to treat narcissistic personality disorder. However, if you have symptoms of depression, anxiety or other conditions, medications such as antidepressants or anti-anxiety drugs may be helpful.

Moving across to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, we see Trump also meets the criteria (If the 35 health care professionals are to be believed) for:

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Empathy: Difficulty understanding and appreciating the ideas, feelings, or behaviors of others. In most cases, medication for this disorder is not indicated unless the individuals is also suffering from another psychiatric disorder. However, newer medications such as Prozac, an SSRI, have been approved for the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder and may provide some relief to individuals with the related personality disorder.

In fact, according to the 35 health care professionals, Trump also meets the criteria for Avoidant Personality Disorder and Borderline Personality Disorder, both can be treated with psychiatric medications.

So, my question to these 35 health care professionals is simple, however, I don't expect an answer.

If Trump was your patient would you prescribe him any of the medications listed above and let him continue in office?

I highly suspect the answer would be a defiant 'No' - not because they don't want him to continue in office, not because they believe that Trump is beyond repair either. Neither of these health care professionals would prescribe any psychiatric drug to Trump because of this one Tweet:

Military solutions are now fully in place,locked and loaded,should North Korea act unwisely. Hopefully Kim Jong Un will find another path!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2017

Why would any psychiatrist or doctor prescribe an antipsychotic or SSRI to someone who throws out a gauntlet like this?

Which brings me nicely to the recent Panorama programme, 'A Prescription For Murder.'

James Holmes, despite telling his psychiatrist he had murderous thoughts, was prescribed the SSRI sertraline, known better by its brand name of Zoloft in the US and Lustral in the UK. Holmes, after taking sertraline for 6 weeks carried out those murderous thoughts regardless. Much was said in the defence of SSRIs prior to and after the airing of the Panorama programme. Those same critics who chastised Panorama are now in a wonderful position. Why not let them decide if a psychiatric drug, which they believe does not induce murderous thoughts, should be administered to President Donald J. Trump?

If they are so cocksure that the benefits of these types of medications outweigh the serious risks they can pose then I'm sure they will pull out their prescription pads and write him a prescription for some medication.

Given what we know about these meds, and what we have been saying for many years about these meds, this is one occasion where psychiatry can prove us all wrong.

I double-dare you all.

Bob Fiddaman

A Week of Madness

The following needs few words. It's a post, one of my first, where I shall just use photos and link to the original stories.

Enjoy these rib tickling attempts at defining how depression and other psychiatric illnesses are diagnosed. Moreover, how the drugs used to treat these apparent illnesses, work.

1. The Priory Group prescribes “medication to restore the chemical imbalance in your brain’s limbic system” 

http://www.priorygroup.com/mental-health/depression

2. "Chemical properties of these drugs (SSRI’s) are restoring resilience in the brain."

http://psychintegrity.org/1786-2/

3. Eye test gives flicker of hope to psychiatric patients

http://www.scotsman.com/future-scotland/tech/eye-test-gives-flicker-of-hope-to-psychiatric-patients-1-4194535

Talk about moving the goalposts!


Bob Fiddaman

Psychiatry Going All Monty Python!

It's been a strange week, for me at least. First, my beloved Aston Villa were relegated from the Premier League into the Championship ~ I was going to write my thoughts on it but so many have already done that, besides I've become disillusioned with modern day football over the years ~ inflated ego's kicking an inflated pig bladder over grass doesn't really appeal to me anymore. I'd rather watch a goldfish swimming around a fish bowl or, better still, use Canadian dwarfs as tenpins whilst bowling tennis balls down a shiny alley to knock them over. (that's a personal joke so, puhleeease, no hate-mail)

Next, I hear that Axl Rose has joined AC/DC and will take over vocal duties from Brian Johnson who is having problems with his hearing ~ I was going to offer my thoughts on this too, again, so many have already done that. Besides, despite being a fan since 1978 and seeing them perform live more times than I can remember, last year was my farewell to them. Wembley stadium was packed with fans, the majority of whom being there because it was "fashionable" to see AC/DC. I can't sit with those type of people anymore.

Then came along something that sent me into a state of apoplexy. It's the latest from the field of psychiatry that had me biting the leg of the chair in efforts to control my hysterical laughter, much to the bemusement of the old lady sitting next to me on the bus (I jest)

The headline comes from Medscape, an online magazine aimed at professionals in the field of medicine, it reads, "Undetected ADHD May Explain Poor SSRI Response in Depression."

Okay, okay, calm down folks. Sometimes headlines can be misleading. Let's just take a look at the article more closely.

The research cited in the article was  presented at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) Conference 2016. (Plenty of chair leg biters present) and was, according to Tia Sternat, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Program, University of Toronto, the result of "collected data from 123 referrals to a single tertiary-care mood and anxiety clinic. The mean age of patients was 39.8 years; ages ranged from 17 to 71 years. A total of 105 patients were included in the final analysis."

The  diagnosis was performed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus 5.0.0.

So, no brain scans, blood samples, urine tests?

Just an "interview"

Class.

It gets better. Here's Tia Sternat again...

"...symptoms of ADHD morph as people age, and what happens is that they'll end up with treatment-resistant depression or anxiety," she said.

The article finishes with...

"Tia Sternat has disclosed no relevant financial relationships."

So, not the same Tia Sternat who was once employed by Janssen Inc and who is a business learning manager at Pfizer then?

Honestly, what a load of codswallop!

Here we have a situation where antidepressants are not working so, let's not blame the antidepressant, let's blame the patient, furthermore, let's tell the patient that the reason the medication doesn't seem to be working is because they have an underlying mental illness that cannot be seen on any modern day scan or through blood or urine samples...but they have it because the answers they gave in a questionnaire proves this.

Talking snakes, fig leaves and apples, anyone?

Now, the majority of my Facebook and Twitter friends won't even read this when I post the link, they may leave a comment on social media and, in general, it will be something along the lines of "Crazy" or "Madness", even "Stupid morons" may even make comment sections?

What we have here is an apparent medical 'profession'  (I invert the word with comma's because to be professional you really should be good at something) who have had to come up with a reason why prescriptions they dish out don't work. It's not the drug, it's the patient, let's find a way that we can convince fellow professionals that ADHD is laying dormant in this particular group of patients and then let's show our findings to all those gathered (fellow psychiatrists) at the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA) Conference 2016.

I'm wondering if the presentation was greeted with enthusiastic applause or if it was greeted by open-mouths and fellow 'professionals' staring into the abyss (Oops, first sign of ADHD folks)

It reminds me of the famous Monty Python parrot sketch. Customer buys parrot ~ takes parrot home ~ realises said parrot is dead ~ returns it to shop only to be told that it's not dead, it's sleeping. Not the purchase ~ it's the customer, which is, in essence, what we all are to the white-coated brigade.

Psychiatry really shoots itself in the foot with this kind of research, particularly when using pens and paper as a means to determine if someone has a disease in their brain. They may as well determine mental disorders by playing 'pick-up sticks with your butt cheeks.' One who picks the least sticks up has Bumpolar or Attention Buttcheek Disorder (ABCD)

What a clusterfuck!

Bob Fiddaman.