tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post7627370513034796468..comments2023-08-20T04:55:39.436-07:00Comments on Ars Psychiatrica: Hard TruthsNovalishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10501890494890617030noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post-23082720228801186502010-01-06T20:51:14.964-08:002010-01-06T20:51:14.964-08:00The efficacy of psychiatric treatment will always ...The efficacy of psychiatric treatment will always be based on the patient's degree of observable functionality, not on measureable shifts in pathological parameters.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post-45511521051494407072010-01-07T09:35:39.998-08:002010-01-07T09:35:39.998-08:00anon,Huh? Perhaps I don't understand what you...anon,<br><br>Huh? Perhaps I don't understand what you're suggesting, but estimates of the efficacy of treatment are based on the practioner's observations and the patient's subjective report of thoughts, feelings and behaviors.Dr Xhttp://drx.typepad.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post-53378287145301550362010-01-07T17:51:47.732-08:002010-01-07T17:51:47.732-08:00Dr X,Yes, I would partially agree with that. Behav...Dr X,<br>Yes, I would partially agree with that. Behaviour is more amenable to change than feelings and thoughts. Therefore a patient’s ability to function within range of what is considered psycho-socially healthful--in spite of persistent negative thoughts and feelings—is a more practicable measure of treatment efficacy. Aren’t chronic psychiatric illnesses more about management and amelioration rather than cure?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post-12935905143058627522010-01-08T02:01:54.553-08:002010-01-08T02:01:54.553-08:00Anon, I originally took you to mean that we should...Anon, I originally took you to mean that we shouldn't stray too far from the basic meaning of an illness, i.e. its impairment of a patient's life experience, as opposed to emphasis upon symptoms or rating scales. This raises of course the basic problem of a patient's condition worsening or improving without his being aware of it.Novalishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10501890494890617030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4425732352511468694.post-69549715902885709072010-03-03T12:51:59.224-08:002010-03-03T12:51:59.224-08:00One of the most frequent things I do in my practic...One of the most frequent things I do in my practice is help patients decide if their symptoms are "normal" or "sick." It is very easy to fall into the fallacy that everything unpleasant is wrong or bad. I find it important to work with my patients to realize that some of the discomfort and distress we experience is actually beneficial and expected in certain situations. Other types of misery are outside of expected reactions to situations or take on a form that suggests psychological or physical pathology.<br><br>I wonder what would happen if only the latter group were studied in psychopharmacology research?the alienisthttp://thealienist.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com