Neurodiversity, Autism, and Psychiatric Disability

2020 ◽  
pp. 499-521
Author(s):  
Jerome C. Wakefield ◽  
David Wasserman ◽  
Jordan A. Conrad
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Autistic Disorder ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽  
Normal Variation ◽  
Philosophy Of Psychiatry ◽  
Disability Theory ◽  
Harmful Dysfunction ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Diagnosis And Classification ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions

Neurodiversity advocates apply the same kind of critiques to psychiatric conditions such as autism that disability theory has long applied to somatic conditions. Yet these critiques have received little attention from philosophy of psychiatry. Although the arguments of neurodiversity advocates often are undeveloped, they raise critical issues about psychiatric diagnosis and classification. This chapter uses Jerome Wakefield’s “harmful dysfunction analysis” of the concept of mental disorder to reconstruct and evaluate neurodiversity arguments that autism is a normal variation, not a mental disorder. We argue that because of the heterogeneity of “autism,” these arguments are more plausible for some subgroups than others. We find support for a moderate neurodiversity position that objects to psychiatric overreach without denying the reality of some forms of autistic disorder.

Pharmacotherapy for Opioid Use Disorders in Special Populations

2020 ◽  
pp. 185-202
Author(s):  
Tricia E. Wright
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Pregnant Woman ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Special Populations ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Adverse Childhood ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
Opioid Use Disorders ◽  
The Life Course

Three populations are most at risk for opioid use disorder: adolescents, pregnant women, and those with comorbid psychological or psychiatric disorders. Opioid use disorders present throughout the life course of an individual, often developing during adolescence. For women, these disorders commonly occur during peak childbearing years. In addition, the twin vulnerabilities of genetics and adverse childhood events often interact to impart a greater chance for co-occurring psychiatric conditions. Caring for the pregnant woman, the adolescent, or the person with a co-occurring mental disorder presents special challenges. This chapter focuses on special considerations when treating opioid use disorders in these populations.

A Study of Pairs of Sibs both Hospitalized for Mental Disorder

1967 ◽  
Vol 113 (496) ◽  
pp. 283-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Tso Tsuang
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Specific Symptoms

The present study is concerned with what is inherited in mental disorder. Is it an unspecific tendency to mental disorder, is it specific symptoms or features such as age of onset, course or outcome, or is it psychiatric diagnosis?The study of pairs of relatives with mental disorder is certainly the best approach to investigating the problem of what is inherited. Unfortunately there has been a paucity of studies primarily dealing with this particular problem.

Integrating competence and psychopathology: Pathways toward a comprehensive science of adaptation in development

2000 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 529-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANN S. MASTEN ◽  
W. JOHN CURTIS
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Behavioral Problems ◽  
Emotional And Behavioral Problems ◽  
Developmental Tasks ◽  
Harmful Dysfunction ◽  
Complex Models ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Dsm Iv

This paper examines the conceptual and empirical connections between competence and psychopathology, two historically rich traditions for the study of adaptation in development, and what might be gained from their integration. Historical roots of these two traditions are reviewed, then overlaps in their definition are considered, with a focus on the ways in which judgments about competence enter into the nosology of mental disorders. DSM-IV is analyzed from the perspective of competence, and the debate about “harmful dysfunction” in defining mental disorder is discussed in relation to competence. Different models explaining the empirical associations of competence and psychopathology are delineated, and illustrative empirical evidence is provided. Potential explanations include confounded concepts and methods, symptoms undermining the effectiveness of adaptation in the environment, failures in age-salient developmental tasks leading to emotional and behavioral problems, transactional influences, shared vulnerability or risk factors producing both kinds of difficulties, and more complex models. The potential benefits of integrating competence and psychopathology as two major approaches to adaptation are discussed in regard to theory, classification of mental disorder, research, and intervention.

Diagnostic Prediction and Prognosis

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Bishop ◽  
J. D. Trout
Keyword(s):  
Psychiatric Diagnosis ◽  
Diagnostic Method ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Moral Issues ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
Conceptual Problems ◽  
The Many ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Individual Clinician

Psychiatric diagnosis and prognosis is fraught with important philosophical and conceptual problems. This chapter focuses on some epistemological issues (What evidence justifies the belief that a course of treatment is effective?) and moral issues (What is a just distribution of scarce psychiatric resources given the many people with psychiatric conditions whose suffering could be alleviated with treatment?) that arise in contemporary psychiatric practice. It examines various clinical and actuarial techniques for psychiatric diagnosis, ordered very loosely in terms of how "structured" or "automated" they are (or, put another way, ordered according to how much freedom the individual clinician has in carrying out the diagnostic method). The chapter makes the case for assessing psychiatric treatments with controlled experiments, raises several epistemological dangers that arise from relying on uncontrolled investigations, and considers some of the unique methodological and ethical issues that arise when trying to assess talk therapy.

European Psychiatric Association (EPA) guidance on prevention of mental disorders

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Campion ◽  
K. Bhui ◽  
D. Bhugra
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Considerable Evidence ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Psychiatric Conditions ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Preparatory Work

AbstractThere is considerable evidence that various psychiatric conditions can be prevented through the implementation of effective evidence-based interventions. Since a large proportion of lifetime mental illness starts before adulthood, such interventions are particularly important during childhood and adolescence. Prevention is important for the sustainable reduction of the burden of mental disorder since once it has arisen, treatment can only reduce a relatively small proportion of such burden. The challenge for clinicians is to incorporate such interventions into non-clinical and clinical practice as well as engaging with a range of other service providers including public health. Similar strategies can be employed in both the European and global contexts. Promotion of mental well-being can prevent mental disorder but is also important in the recovery from mental disorder. This guidance should be read in conjunction with the EPA Guidance on Mental Health Promotion. This guidance draws on preparatory work for the development of England policy on prevention of mental disorder which used a wide range of sources.

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