Impact of Event Scale (IES)
Global Assessment of Function Scale (GAF)
Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS)
Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS)
The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D)
Daily Record of Severity of Problems Scale (DRSP)
Assessed by the Clinician-Administered Scale (PTSD)
Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES)
The Clinical Global Impression Severity of Illness Scale (CGIS-I)
Clinical Global Impression Severity and Improvement Scales. (CGI-S and CGI-I)
Here's how you would use some of these in a sentence:
Assessed by the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS) which is a multi-item instrument that measures the three PTSD diagnostic symptoms clusters of reexperiencing/intrusion, avoidance/numbing and hyperarousal as well as the patient-rated Impact of Event Scale (IES) which measures intrusion and avoidance symptoms.
Laboratory Testing? None. None? That's right, all those fancy words boil down to "I looked at you." These diagnostic scales are 100% based on visual and written evaluations, not tests. An evaluation is where you look at something. A test is where you take a sample of hair, blood, saliva, stool or urinalysis and actually test it for something concrete using what is called, "evidence based medicine."
I think parents see those big impressive fancy words and figure that a $3,000 Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) given by a stack of psychiatrist must be a very in depth test. If I was to tell you that my former job was a Night Time Manager as a Energy Transfer Technician, (NTM-ETT) would you be impressed? Would you be even more impressed if I told you I had that job when I was only 15! Yes, I was by myself, so that means I was the manager and I was pumping gas, so that means I was the energy transfer technician. So the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale means , "I LOOKED AT YOU." That's it, looked.
Now stop and go back and look at that list of goofy names. Now that is about ¼ of the list of "I looked at you, scales." At what point do you get suspicious? When do you say, "Are you guys staying up late inventing unintelligible diagnostic scales? How many different ways can you say, "I just looked at you?"
From the DSM Manual:
"Substantial evidence from neuroscience, genetics and clinical investigation shows that disease and illnesses are disorders of the brain, however, the precise causes of these illnesses continue to be a matter of intense research."
Huh? You don't actually know what causes the so called illness/disease, but you prescribe drugs for them anyway? A disorder is a disease? So attention deficit disorder means, "attention deficit disease?" YES.
Statements like this, "where the theory of affirmed while simultaneously acknowledging that there is no specific evidence to support it" , are common in the psychiatry literature. Taken from the book, " The Broken Brain " by Nancy Andreasen, Editor of the American Journal of Psychiatry: "We know that schizophrenics may have a chemical imbalance in their brains. We (the experts) think that mental illness may be due to a chemical imbalance, but at this point based on the available data we do not know if this hypothesis is valid." THINK? MAY?
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY
Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics from www.pubmed.com
The efficacy of paroxetine in the treatment of major depressive disorder, social anxiety disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder ( OCD ), panic disorder ( PD ), attention deficit disorder (ADD) , generalized anxiety disorder ( GAD ), and posttraumatic stress disorder ( PTSD ) is presumed to be linked to potentiation of serotonergic activity in the central nervous system resulting from inhibition of neuronal reuptake of serotonin (5-hydroxy-tryptamine, 5-HT). Studies at clinically relevant doses in humans have led us to believe that paroxetine blocks the uptake of serotonin into human platelets. In vitro studies in animals also suggest that paroxetine is a potent and highly selective inhibitor of neuronal serotonin reuptake and has only very weak effects on norepinephrine and dopamine neuronal reuptake.
Does is bother you that your child is on a class II drug like Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, Strattera etc, the most toxic and addictive drug you can get a prescription for and they don't even know what caused the symptoms?
When lawyers use the same words the psychiatric industry uses like, "think, may, presumed, led us to believe and suggest" to describe your condition, are you worried?
They have this 30 year old theory: Neurotransmitters when out of alignment cause AD/HD symptoms. Now get this part, "That has never been proved." They have never proved that neurotransmitters when out of alignment cause AD/HD symptoms and they have never proved that Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, etc. actually put the neurotransmitters back into alignment and eliminate the cause of the symptoms.
All they have is anecdotal visual observations that state, "When hyperactive children take Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta etc, about 80% of them calm down". Nothing about neurotransmitters being the cause, nothing about neurotransmitters getting back in alignment, nothing about neurotransmitters in any way, shape or form. The theory is the neurotransmitters and the reality is the meds made them visually sedated.
When I was in high school, I noticed that when hyperactive children at parties were given beer, about 80% also calmed down. Does that mean that beer will repair and align neurotransmitters? It sure "looked" like it did from an unscientific visual and written evaluation that will stand up to the standards of The Clinical Global Impression Severity of Illness Scale (CGIS-I).
Now take a casual glance at the list of so-called diseases below from the DSM-IV.
These are diseases that can be diagnosed with a visual or written evaluation. Remember, a "disorder" is a "disease" according to the American Psychiatric Association and their manual the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-IV. Now just look at the ones I've highlighted in red . According to the DSM-IV, if you're having problems in school with math, English or reading, you have a disease. Others are just about as silly.
Academic Problem (Yup, if you're getting D's in school, you have a disease)
Acculturation Problem
Acute Stress Disorder
Adjustment Disorder Unspecified (If you just moved to a new city, you have a disease)
Adjustment Disorder With Anxiety
Adjustment Disorder With Depressed Mood
Adjustment Disorder With Disturbance of Conduct
Adjustment Disorder With Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood
Adjustment Disorder With Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct
Adult Antisocial Behavior
Adverse Effects of Medication (This is a disease? I thought they were side-effects?)
Age-Related Cognitive Decline (Getting old is a disease?)
Agoraphobia Without History of Panic Disorder
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol Dependence
Alcohol Intoxication
Alcohol Intoxication Delirium
Alcohol Withdrawal (Alcohol withdrawal is a disease? Do you cure that with beer?)
Alcohol Withdrawal Delirium
Alcohol-Induced Anxiety Disorder
Alcohol-Induced Mood Disorder
Alcohol-Induced Persisting Amnestic Disorder
Alcohol-Induced Persisting Dementia
Alcohol-Induced Psychotic Disorder With Delusions
Alcohol-Induced Psychotic Disorder With Hallucinations
Alcohol-Induced Sexual Dysfunction
Alcohol-Induced Sleep Disorder
Alcohol-Related Disorder
Amnestic Disorder Due to General Medical Condition
Amphetamine Abuse
Amphetamine Dependence
Anorexia Nervosa
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Anxiety Disorder Due to General Medical Condition
Anxiety Disorder
Asperger's Disorder
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Combined Type
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Predominantly hyperactive-Impulsive Type
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Predominantly Inattentive Type
Autistic Disorder
Avoidant Personality Disorder (I avoid my in-laws, do I need meds?)
Bereavement (My mom died, feeling sad is a disease?)
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I Disorder Most Recent Episode Depressed
Bipolar I Disorder Most Recent Episode Hypomanic
Bipolar I Disorder Most Recent Episode Manic
Bipolar I Disorder Most Recent Episode Mixed
Bipolar I Disorder Single Manic Episode
Bipolar I Disorder, Most recent episode Unspecified
Bipolar II Disorder
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Borderline Intellectual Functioning
Borderline Personality Disorder
Breathing-Related Sleep Disorder
Brief Psychotic Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Cannabis Abuse
Cannabis Dependence
Catatonic Disorder Due to General Medical Condition
Child or Adolescent Antisocial Behavior
Childhood Disintegrative Disorder
Chronic Motor or Vocal Tic Disorder
Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder
Cocaine Abuse
Cocaine Dependence
Cognitive Disorder
Communication Disorder (If you don't understand your kids, you have a disease)
Conduct Disorder
Conversion Disorder
Cyclothymic Disorder
Delirium Due to General Medical Condition
Delirium
Delusional Disorder
Dementia Due to [Other General Medical Condition]
Dementia due to Creutzfeld-Jacob disease
Dementia Due to Head Trauma
Dementia Due to HIV Disease
Dementia Due to Huntington's Disease
Dementia Due to Parkinson's Disease
Dementia due to Pick's Disease
Dementia or Amnestic Disorder
Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type, With Early Onset, Uncomplicated
Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type, With Early Onset, With Delirium
Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type, With Early Onset, With Delusions
Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type, With Early Onset, With Depressed Mood
Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type, With Late Onset, Uncomplicated
Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type, With Late Onset, With Delirium
Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type, With Late Onset, With Delusions
Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type, With Late Onset, With Depressed Mood
Dependent Personality Disorder
Depersonalization Disorder
Depressive Disorder
Developmental Coordination Disorder
Diagnosis or Condition Deferred on Axis I or Diagnosis Deferred on Axis II
Disorder of Infancy, Childhood, or Adolescence (Being an infant is a disease?)
Disorder of Written Expression (Can't write a love letter? You have a disease)
Disruptive Behavior Disorder
Dissociative Amnesia
Dissociative Disorder
Dissociative Fugue
Dissociative Identity Disorder
Dyspareunia (Not Due to a General Medical Condition)
Dyssomnia
Dysthymic Disorder
Eating Disorder
Encopresis Without Constipation and Overflow Incontinence
Encopresis, With Constipation and Overflow Incontinence
Enuresis (Not Due to a General Medical Condition)
Exhibitionism (If you wear a tiny, string bikini at the beach, you have a disease)
Expressive Language Disorder (Can't tell your spouse you love them? You have a disease)
Factitious Disorder (Webter's defines factitious as: Produced artificially . Like the DSM-IV)
Factitious Disorder With Combined Psychological and Physical Signs and Symptoms
Factitious Disorder With Predominantly Physical Signs and Symptoms
Factitious Disorder With Predominantly Psychological Signs and Symptoms
Feeding Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood
Female Dyspareunia Due to [General Medical Condition]
Female Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder Due to [General Medical Condition]
Female Orgasmic Disorder
Female Sexual Arousal Disorder (My wife gets excited and now needs meds?)
Fetishism
Frotteurism
Gender Identity Disorder in Adolescents or Adults
Gender Identity Disorder in Children or Gender Identity Disorder
Gender Identity Disorder
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Hallucinogen Abuse
Hallucinogen Dependence
Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (Flashbacks)
Histrionic Personality Disorder
Hypersomnia Related to [General Medical Condition]
Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (Being Christian is a disease)
Hypochondriasis
Identity Problem
Impulse-Control Disorder
Inhalant Abuse
Inhalant Dependence
Insomnia Related to [General Medical Condition]
Intermittent Explosive Disorder
Kleptomania
Learning Disorder
Major Depressive Disorder Recurrent
Major Depressive Disorder Single Episode
Male Dyspareunia Due to [General Medical Condition]
Male Erectile Disorder
Male Erectile Disorder Due to [General Medical Condition]
Male Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder Due to [General Medical Condition]
Male Orgasmic Disorder
Malingering
Mathematics Disorder (Not understanding new math is now a disease!)
Medication-Induced Movement Disorder (Meds that cause you to poop is now a disease?)
Medication-Induced Postural Tremor (taking meds is a disease?)
Mental Disorder due to General Medical Condition
Mental Retardation, Severity Unspecified
Mild mental retardation
Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder
Moderate Mental Retardation
Mood Disorder Due to General Medical Condition
Mood Disorder
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcolepsy
Neglect of Child (if focus of attention is on victim)
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome
Neuroleptic-Induced Acute Akathisia
Neuroleptic-Induced Acute Dystonia
Neuroleptic-Induced Parkinsonism
Neuroleptic-Induced Tardive Dyskinesia
Nicotine Dependence (Hooked on cigs is now a disease?)
Nightmare Disorder (Having a nightmare is a disease?)
No Diagnosis or Condition on Axis I or Axis II
Noncompliance With Treatment (Got this? If you don't want to take their meds, it's a disease!!)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder
Occupational Problem (Yup, if you hate your job, it's a disease)
Opioid Abuse
Opioid Dependence
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Other Female Sexual Dysfunction Due to [General Medical Condition]
Other Male Sexual Dysfunction Due to [General Medical Condition]
Pain Disorder Associated With Both Psychological Factors and a General Medical Condition
Pain Disorder Associated With Psychological Factors
Panic Disorder With Agoraphobia
Panic Disorder Without Agoraphobia
Paranoid Personality Disorder
Paraphilia
Parasomnia
Parent-Child Relational Problem (Don't get along 100% with your kids is a disease)
Partner Relational Problem (Don't get along with your spouse is a disease!)
Pathological Gambling
Pedophilia
Personality Disorder Due to General Medical Condition
Personality Disorder
Pervasive Developmental Disorder
Phase of Life Problem (Mid-life crisis is a disease)
Phencyclidine Abuse
Phencyclidine Dependence
Phonological Disorder
Physical abuse of adult (if focus of attention is on victim)
Physical abuse of child (if focus of attention is on victim)
Physical or Sexual Abuse of Adult
Pica
Polysubstance Dependence
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Premature Ejaculation
Primary Hypersomnia
Primary Insomnia
Profound Mental Retardation
Psychological Factors Affecting Medical Condition
Psychotic Disorder Due to [General Medical Condition], With Delusions
Psychotic Disorder Due to [General Medical Condition], With Hallucinations
Psychotic Disorder
Pyromania
Reactive Attachment Disorder of Infancy or Early Childhood
Reading Disorder (If I can't read well, it's a disease)
Relational Problem (Single? Can't find a date? You have a disease)
Relational Problem Related to [a Mental Disorder or General Medical Condition]
Religious or Spiritual Problem (Believing in God is now a disease)
Rett's Disorder
Rumination Disorder
Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoid Personality Disorder
Schizophrenia Undifferentiated Type
Schizophrenia, Catatonic Type
Schizophrenia, Disorganized Type
Schizophrenia, Paranoid Type
Schizophrenia, Residual Type
Schizophreniform Disorder
Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Sedative, Hypnotic, or Anxiolytic Abuse
Sedative, Hypnotic, or Anxiolytic Dependence
Selective Mutism
Separation Anxiety Disorder (Wife files separation papers on you and you have a disease)
Severe Mental Retardation
Sexual abuse of adult (if focus of attention is on victim)
Sexual abuse of child (if focus of attention is on victim)
Sexual Aversion Disorder (If the wife has a headache, she has a disease)
Sexual Disorder
Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual Masochism
Sexual or Physical Abuse or Neglect of Child
Sexual Sadism
Shared Psychotic Disorder
Sibling Relational Problem (Don't get along with your sister? You have a disease)
Sleep Disorder Due to [General Medical Condition], Hypersomnia
Sleep Disorder Due to [General Medical Condition], Insomnia
Sleep Disorder Due to [General Medical Condition], Mixed
Sleep Disorder Due to [General Medical Condition], Parasomnia
Sleep Terror Disorder
Sleepwalking Disorder
Social Phobia
Somatization Disorder
Somatoform Disorder
Specific Phobia
Stereotypic Movement Disorder
Stuttering
Tic Disorder
Tourette's Disorder
Transient Tic Disorder
Transvestic Fetishism
Trichotillomania
Undifferentiated Somatoform Disorder
Unspecified Mental Disorder (nonpsychotic)
Vaginismus (Not Due to a General Medical Condition)
Vascular Dementia, Uncomplicated
Vascular Dementia, With Delirium
Vascular Dementia, With Delusions
Vascular Dementia, With Depressed Mood
Voyeurism (If you like to read Sport Illustrated swimsuit edition, you have a disease)
There are some real diseases on this list, but the ones in bold belongs in the fiction section of the library