Behaviorism and Mental Health

Alternative perspective on psychiatry's so-called mental disorders | PHILIP HICKEY, PH.D.

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More on Postpartum Depression

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I recently wrote a post on postpartum depression which has generated a certain amount of negative comment.  For this reason, I thought it might be helpful to clarify some points. DEFINITION AND EXPLANATIONS The DSM makes no mention of postpartum depression as such.  The closest it comes is major depressive disorder with postpartum onset.  In… Continue Reading

Postpartum Depression Not an Illness

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BACKGROUND The primary purpose of the bio-psychiatric-pharma faction is to expand turf and sell more drugs.  This is a multi-faceted endeavor, one component of which is disease mongering.  This consists of using marketing techniques to persuade large numbers of people that they have an illness which needs to be treated with drugs. With regards to… Continue Reading

Internet Addiction: A Bad Habit, Not An Illness

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The DSM-5 drafting committee considered including Internet addiction in the upcoming revision, but eventually backed off, at least for now.  Apparently they decided to put it in the category “requiring further study.”  So it’ll be in DSM-6. Meanwhile, people are being given the “diagnosis” anyway – and of course, the “treatment.” AN ILLUSTRATIVE CASE I’m… Continue Reading

Separation Anxiety Disorder: Now Also for Adults

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BACKGROUND The “diagnosis” of separation anxiety disorder has been around since DSM-III.  In DSM-IV it is defined as “…excessive anxiety concerning separation from the home or from those to whom the person is attached.”  (DSM-IV-TR p 121).  The APA’s prevalence estimate is 4%. This “diagnosis” is listed under the heading: “Other Disorders of Infancy, Childhood,… Continue Reading