In the ongoing, and important, discussion of the nature of mental
illness it seems to me that it would be incredibly helpful if we would
be more deliberate in our distinction between “mental illness,” as a
very large societal umbrella covering multitudes of
non-organically-related behaviors (moral issues), and “mental illness”
as an organic, physiological disorder backed up by legitimate scientific
research (medical issues). For the latter category, it seems that we
would be much better off if we used a term like “brain malfunction.” I
submit this recommendation to the discussion for a number of reasons,
which I hope to elaborate on more fully later in the week, as well as
provide another page of helpful resources on the topic.
One reason we need a term other than “illness” is that this word
often automatically generates in our minds unqualified confidence that a
problem is indeed proven, lock-tight, as medical. Even some secular
psychiatrists rightly oppose the DSM IV’s, and soon-to-be V’s,
propagation of untold numbers of behavioral problems as “illnesses” for
which persons can be treated by professionals who may then be
compensated by insurance companies. The word “illness” too easily
produces a victim-mindset in persons who might no longer be held
responsible and, therefore, require medication. Since this is how our
society has been trained to think we must strive to apply a biblical
worldview to all of life and work extra hard to make clear distinctions
of definition, lest we unintentionally contribute to the world’s tragic
hijack of hope. Continue at Paul Tautges
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