# Mental illness is exaggerated **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [June 9, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522 "2013-06-09T03:18:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/61 "2013-06-09T21:19:07Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > Actually one of the first posters asked if I was mentally ill for criticizing psychiatry… Actually, a few posters have asked you what specific mental illness you think psychiatrists have. Well? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/62 "2013-06-09T21:30:21Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > Actually one of the first posters asked if I was mentally ill for criticizing psychiatry… Not quite, no. He said when he hears that opinion he wonders if the speaker is bipolar. I’m assuming that’s because of the way bipolar disorder works. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/63 "2013-06-09T21:32:38Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > In addition schizophrenia used to be treated and still is (quite well in fact) with Electro convulsive therapy which works by erasing memories . If schizophrenia was in fact caused by a excess of dopamine as we believe today then Electro convulsive therapy would have no effect. No. Severe depression and catatonia (sometimes associated with schizophrenia) are treated with ECT. Insulin shock therapy to produce hypoglycemic comas were used before that, but ECT is obviously much safer. ECT does not work by erasing memories; that’s an unfortunate side effect of all seizures. We’re not actually sure why ECT works to ease catatonic symptoms, especially for such long periods of time (up to months). ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/64 "2013-06-09T22:15:15Z")
> [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](#): > > No. Severe depression and catatonia (sometimes associated with schizophrenia) are treated with ECT. Insulin shock therapy to produce hypoglycemic comas were used before that, but ECT is obviously much safer. ECT does not work by erasing memories; that’s an unfortunate side effect of all seizures. We’re not actually sure why ECT works to ease catatonic symptoms, especially for such long periods of time (up to months). I suggest you read up on ECT as you have no idea on how it works or its history. ECT was and still is used to treat schizophrenia. It works by erasing memories and that’s its primary function. It was also used to treat depression as well as other mental problems. ---
**Author:** ![stoplight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@stoplight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stoplight)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/65 "2013-06-09T22:29:06Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I suggest you read up on ECT as you have no idea on how it works or its history. ECT was and still is used to treat schizophrenia. It works by erasing memories and that’s its primary function. It was also used to treat depression as well as other mental problems. so schizophrenic psychiatrists prescribed ect for other schizophrenics but not themselves? you would think they would be first in line yeah? I’m confused ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/66 "2013-06-09T22:34:13Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I suggest you read up on ECT as you have no idea on how it works or its history. ECT was and still is used to treat schizophrenia. It works by erasing memories and that’s its primary function. I think [you](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroconvulsive_therapy) are the one who needs to do some reading up on ECT. This is basic stuff. It does _not_ work by erasing memories and it’s only used as a last-resort measure as a treatment for schizophrenia today. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/67 "2013-06-09T22:35:09Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I suggest you read up on ECT as you have no idea on how it works or its history. ECT was and still is used to treat schizophrenia. It works by erasing memories and that’s its primary function. It was also used to treat depression as well as other mental problems. I suggest you read up on debate techniques, as you have no idea on how it works. Yes, ECT is used on schizophrenia, and yes, it results in some memory loss. But no, that is not its primary function. That’s simply ludicrous. Do you imagine that somehow if someone forgot some troubling memory, schizophrenia would go away? A good helping of whisky does that, and won’t help schizophrenia at all. ---
**Author:** ![Lakai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9de0a6/32.png) [@Lakai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lakai)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/68 "2013-06-09T22:38:28Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > SSRIs are mostly placebo. When the actual studies are looked at (both published and unpublished) it is found that about 80%+ of the effect of SSRIs is the placebo effect, they barely work better than sugar pills. Not only that but they only seem to help on the severely depressed, for those with minor or moderate depression they do almost nothing. The whole SSRI thing is, to me, a sign of why financial interests and medical interests should be separated more. If people who stand to make money fund the studies only the studies showing positive effect get published. > > However antipsychotics do seem to work on a lot of people, especially for things like positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions) of psychosis. Drugs for bipolar seem to be fairly effective too. Another theory is that SSRIs do not work on people who do not have depression, and the people who are prescribed SSRIs for depression are being misdiagnosed. This could either be because most psychiatrists don’t know what their doing, or because people who are not depressed just want to take drugs to be happy instead of working hard to solve their problems. That’s why you see SSRIs being effective for major depression. Major depression is supposedly easier to diagnose. > [@Czarcasm](#): > > Actually, a few posters have asked you what specific mental illness you think psychiatrists have. Well? I think he’s going to ignore this question. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/69 "2013-06-09T22:48:30Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > Another theory is that SSRIs do not work on people who do not have depression, and the people who are prescribed SSRIs for depression are being misdiagnosed. This could either be because most psychiatrists don’t know what their doing, or because people who are not depressed just want to take drugs to be happy instead of working hard to solve their problems. Or depression is a symptom, like fever, that can have multiple causes. If your depression is because your brain chemistry is abnormal then SSRT’s might help you. If your depression is because your house burned down, your dog bit you, your spouse died, and your lost your job rather than because of bad brain chemicals then the solution isn’t an SSRI it’s a new house, a different dog, a better job, and some time to get past the dead spouse grief. ---
**Author:** ![stoplight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@stoplight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stoplight)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/70 "2013-06-09T22:52:57Z")
[QUOTE I think he’s going to ignore this question.[/QUOTE] Granted its a difficult question for him to answer but its his premise and is tied to his credibility relevant to this discussion ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2013, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/71 "2013-06-09T22:56:07Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > I suggest you read up on ECT as you have no idea on how it works or its history. ECT was and still is used to treat schizophrenia. It works by erasing memories and that’s its primary function. It was also used to treat depression as well as other mental problems. Other posters have said the same thing, but you’re a little off on this one. It makes more sense to refute with facts rather than (incorrect) anger. The latest-to-date meta-analysis shows that while, yes, it is used for severe schizophrenia, the [evidence is weak](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15846598), leading major organisations to [recommend against its use](http://publications.nice.org.uk/guidance-on-the-use-of-electroconvulsive-therapy-ta59). ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/72 "2013-06-10T00:45:48Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > . . . If your depression is because your house burned down, your dog bit you, your spouse died, and your lost your job rather than because of bad brain chemicals then the solution isn’t an SSRI . . . That’s the time to get a steel guitar and sing some blues… More seriously (and to the OP) if mental illness is overrated, what is the explanation, and recommended approach to prevention, of the thousands of suicides occurring annually? In my opinion, the public response is insufficient, and the problem is under-rated. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/73 "2013-06-10T00:46:06Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > I think he’s going to ignore this question. I think it’s a not-minor part of his OP. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/74 "2013-06-10T02:28:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > I think it’s a not-minor part of his OP. Ignore what question? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/75 "2013-06-10T02:32:28Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > most psychiatrists are mentally ill themselves Ill with what condition? ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/76 "2013-06-10T02:34:20Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > Ignore what question? > [@Ambivalid](#): > > Ill with what condition? That one. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/77 "2013-06-10T02:34:29Z")
> [@Lakai](#): > > Another theory is that SSRIs do not work on people who do not have depression, and the people who are prescribed SSRIs for depression are being misdiagnosed. This could either be because most psychiatrists don’t know what their doing, or because people who are not depressed just want to take drugs to be happy instead of working hard to solve their problems. Or it could be that the patients themselves are concentrating on socially acceptable symptoms and/or following ‘leading’ directions from their Doctor. I’d have to cite my ex-wife on this one. Treated for depression, but the meds really didn’t help and in fact often made things worse in regards to her paranoid delusions. But “depression” was part of the easy cover story for her to get on SSDI and avoid addressing her real issues. I think as we move along the road of genetic testing, we will eventually be able to track drug effectiveness and side effects and be better able to find the right meds for people. The question will be whether or not privacy laws inhibit the kind of data mining that could provide this kind of information. ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/78 "2013-06-10T02:36:08Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > That one. About psychiatrists being crazy this link is a good start [Do Psychiatrists go Crazy? | Student Doctor Network](http://forums.studentdoctor.net/archive/index.php/t-50027.html) ---
**Author:** ![stoplight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea666f/32.png) [@stoplight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stoplight)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/79 "2013-06-10T02:58:40Z")
> [@matt357](#): > > About psychiatrists being crazy this link is a good start [Do Psychiatrists go Crazy? | Student Doctor Network](http://forums.studentdoctor.net/archive/index.php/t-50027.html) Yawn, predictable and no credibility..done with this guy ---
**Author:** ![matt357](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@matt357](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt357)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522/80 "2013-06-10T03:22:13Z")
> [@stoplight](#): > > Yawn, predictable and no credibility..done with this guy lol stick you head in the sand [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mental-illness-is-exaggerated/660522.md?page=5)