The Role of Corporatism and Non-Scientific Diagnoses in Today's Psychiatry: How Patients Are Being Silenced
An Analysis of the Sociopolitical Forces Shaping Mental Health Treatment in the 21st Century
Psychiatry has long been considered a medical discipline that provides help and care for those with mental health conditions. However, in the 21st century, psychiatry is increasingly becoming a sociopolitical tool, used to silence as many people as possible.
One of the primary ways this is happening is through the widening scope for disorders and variants in non-scientific books like the American DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders). This book, used by psychiatrists worldwide to diagnose mental health conditions, has been criticised for its lack of scientific rigour and reliance on anecdotal evidence. Many experts argue that the DSM is being used to label and medicate people who do not need it, leading to a rise in the number of people being prescribed psychiatric drugs.
Furthermore, the DSM disregards and disavows all patients with anecdotal evidence of the repeat prescribed and iatrogenic harms being done whether covertly or overtly within the short term and long term. This leaves many patients feeling ignored and unsupported, further fuelling the notion that psychiatry is more of a tool to silence people than to help them.
The rise of corporatism in the 21st century has only exacerbated the problem. Corporations now have a significant influence on the way mental health is perceived and treated. The pharmaceutical industry, for example, has a vested interest in promoting the use of psychiatric drugs, even if they are not necessary or even harmful.
It is worth noting that today's corporatism is not the same as capitalism. In fact, many of the negative aspects of corporatism, such as the suppression of individual rights and the prioritisation of profit over people, go against the principles of true capitalism. However, society often blames capitalism for the problems caused by corporatism, perpetuating the cycle of misinformation and misdirection.
In conclusion, psychiatry in the 21st century is becoming less about helping people and more about silencing them. The rise of non-scientific books like the DSM, combined with the influence of corporate interests, is leading to a rise in the number of people being diagnosed with mental health conditions and prescribed drugs that they do not need.
If we are to truly help those with mental health conditions, we need to re-evaluate the role of psychiatry in society. We must prioritise scientific rigour and evidence-based treatments, while also acknowledging the importance of individual experiences and perspectives. Only then can we ensure that psychiatry is a tool for healing and not just another means of control.