What if mental disorders like anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder aren't mental disorders at all? In a compelling new paper, biological anthropologists call on the scientific community to rethink mental illness. With a thorough review of the evidence, they show good reasons to think of depression or PTSD as responses to adversity rather than chemical imbalances...
Mental disorders are routinely treated by medication under the medical model. So why are the anthropologists who wrote this study claiming that these disorders might not be medical at all? They point to key points. First, that medical science has never been able to prove that anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder are inherited conditions.
Second, the study authors note that despite widespread and increasing use of antidepressants, rates of anxiety and depression do not seem to be improving...
Third, worldwide rates of these disorders remain stable in 1 in 14 people. Yet "in conflict affected countries, an estimated one in five people suffers from depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and other disorders" they write.
Taken together, the authors posit that anxiety, depression and PTSD may be adaptive responses to adversity...
Alison Escalante, Forbes, August 11, 2020
Mental disorders are routinely treated by medication under the medical model. So why are the anthropologists who wrote this study claiming that these disorders might not be medical at all? They point to key points. First, that medical science has never been able to prove that anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder are inherited conditions.
Second, the study authors note that despite widespread and increasing use of antidepressants, rates of anxiety and depression do not seem to be improving...
Third, worldwide rates of these disorders remain stable in 1 in 14 people. Yet "in conflict affected countries, an estimated one in five people suffers from depression, PTSD, anxiety disorders, and other disorders" they write.
Taken together, the authors posit that anxiety, depression and PTSD may be adaptive responses to adversity...
Alison Escalante, Forbes, August 11, 2020
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