"And if you complain once more, you'll meet an army of me..."

"Aaaand iiiifff you complain once more, you'll meet an army of meeee." Song by Bjork that's on my iPod RIGHT now. I LOVE that line.

Pictured above is the DSM-IV-TR aka the psychiatric bible. A new revision is coming out soon and it's being met with mixed reception from medical, psychiatric and related communities. I don't know how I feel about it but I will have to get it and use it. We already over-pathologize and over diagnose. And terms like OCD and bipolar are so misused by people already, it's frustrating. I hate when people diagnose themselves as OCD or manic and they really aren't. Or how popular culture uses psychotic and sociopathy interchangeably when they shouldn't be.

Anyway, that's the end of that rant.

I wish I had more time to read the academic literature in my field to keep me current, fresh, and informed.

The lyric that keeps running through my head now is.... "And if you complain once more, you'll meet an army of me..." Ironic because I hear and field complaints all day. And I don't really get annoyed by it or I wouldn't be loving the kind of work I do.

[JP]

Join the club! oh how I understand you about wishing more time to keep abreast of the literature! We can only do our best! Apparently DSM-V is already available for pre-ordering. Since I practice in Malta, we follow the European ICD-10 which is also due to be updated i believe next year - let's hope it won't be a nightmare to get used to!

Thank goodness for 365 because it helps us keep our mind on other things than just psychiatry from morning to evening!!!! :))

[Ms. T]

@jpgiorgio the codes in the DSM will coordinate with the ICD-10, right? Anyway, glad you can commiserate!! And yes thanks to 365 I have another outlet away from psychiatry and mental illness!

[Tim Erskine]

And let's not forget, in common parlance, schizophrenia = multiple personality disorder.

[Ms. T]

@timerskine yes very good point. So many people mix that up.

[Tony]

I like the tone of your rant. Not that many years ago there were far fewer labels and people generally got on with life.

[Ms. T]

@tonydebont indeed. The changes that the new DSM proposes adds even more labels. In some ways, this is a relief because perhaps we can more appropriately name things to identify process for healing and change. However the way I use a label a a clinician is more as a communication tool among various disciplines an languages. And for billing purposes. While it does have advantages, there are many pitfalls. On the other end, there are clients of mine that want to know their Axis I or Axis II diagnosis. This is a slippery slope as I am very cautious to reduce people to a label. On the other hand, some people find a label or diagnosis comforting to a degree because it helps them talk about it and seek the right help. I'm just hoping I can adjust to the changes well to serve my work better.