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Current thinking re: "schizophrenia" from the International Society for Psychological and Social Responses to Psychosis (ISPS):
ISPS recently changed its name to eliminate the word “schizophrenia,” based on a growing international consensus that the stigmatizing impact of the term far outweighs the limited validity of the construct. Our previous keynoter, Richard Bentall, PhD, has written persuasively that while there is scientific evidence for the existence of certain symptoms, there is no evidence for a unified “disease” called schizophrenia. Even one of the so-called hallmark features of schizophrenia – auditory hallucinations – has been called into question by traumatologists, who cite evidence that hearing voices is a common feature of PTSD and dissociative disorders. Professors Romme and Escher's research shows that hearing voices is a common occurrence among patients and non-patients. Recovering voice hearer Ron Coleman has suggested that the phenomenon of “negative symptoms” is merely a description of people who are lost in their voice hearing experiences and too distracted or despondent to interact effectively with the outside world. Others have found that “negative symptoms” are the manifestation of profound depression and demoralization, which are also common experiences among those diagnosed with schizophrenia.
What is it that one is recovering from and what does it mean to be in recovery or recovered? Recovery has become a popular buzzword in mental health, but its definition is also controversial. For some it means living with symptoms; for others it means elimination of symptoms. Some use professional treatment including medication and consider themselves recovered because they lead highly functional lives. Others consider dependence on prescriptions and therapists as indicators that one is not yet fully recovered. Given that there are new challenges to ways of thinking about the experiences formerly defined as schizophrenic, it is time to reconsider what recovery from these experiences looks like.
ISPS recently changed its name to eliminate the word “schizophrenia,” based on a growing international consensus that the stigmatizing impact of the term far outweighs the limited validity of the construct. Our previous keynoter, Richard Bentall, PhD, has written persuasively that while there is scientific evidence for the existence of certain symptoms, there is no evidence for a unified “disease” called schizophrenia. Even one of the so-called hallmark features of schizophrenia – auditory hallucinations – has been called into question by traumatologists, who cite evidence that hearing voices is a common feature of PTSD and dissociative disorders. Professors Romme and Escher's research shows that hearing voices is a common occurrence among patients and non-patients. Recovering voice hearer Ron Coleman has suggested that the phenomenon of “negative symptoms” is merely a description of people who are lost in their voice hearing experiences and too distracted or despondent to interact effectively with the outside world. Others have found that “negative symptoms” are the manifestation of profound depression and demoralization, which are also common experiences among those diagnosed with schizophrenia.
What is it that one is recovering from and what does it mean to be in recovery or recovered? Recovery has become a popular buzzword in mental health, but its definition is also controversial. For some it means living with symptoms; for others it means elimination of symptoms. Some use professional treatment including medication and consider themselves recovered because they lead highly functional lives. Others consider dependence on prescriptions and therapists as indicators that one is not yet fully recovered. Given that there are new challenges to ways of thinking about the experiences formerly defined as schizophrenic, it is time to reconsider what recovery from these experiences looks like.
BlogsSocial Work & Mental Health
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Sectioned A Blog about Mental Health and Mental Healthcare
Overcoming Schizophrenia Creative Schizophrenia Blog Mental Health Social Worker Bipolar Bimbo Social Work Blog Directory Social Work / Social Care and Media (Talented SW bloggers) Virtual Connections The New Social Worker Daily Classroom to Capitol (social woker, activist, blogger) Latina Lista A Social Work Blogger (Excellent!) How Much Do Social Workers Earn? Secrets for Passing the LMSW Exam 20 Interview Questions Every Social Worker Needs to Know The Mental Elf Reliable mental health research policy & guidance Hack Social Work A blog: Be your best at SW practice! Bipolar Blog If you are offended by swearing, don't click! Worst Things to Say to a Person with Mental Illness Best Things to Say to a Person with Mental Illness The New Social Worker: Quarterly magazine for SW students & recent grads, focusing on SW careers for those new to the profession Social Work Links Social Work Blog Directory Mental Health, Addiction, etc.
Sectioned A Blog about Mental health and Mental Health Care
The Healthy Place A Mental Health "Channel." Brains Philosophical discussions on the mind. All in the Mind A blog abt life & beyond through the mind’s eye. Laura’s Psychology Blog A fun blog about interesting news related to psychology. World of Psychology A blog found at the popular PsychCentral. Cognitive Daily Developments within the field of cognitive psychology. The Reality of Anxiety A popular blog on anxiety & panic disorders. Aimee, the author, suffers from social anxiety and chronicles her journey here. Beyond Blue Spiritual guide through depression. Politics
Snopes (reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation)
The Audre Lorde Project American Wolf (Classic!) PostWhoreAmerica Peace Action of Central New York From a Left Wing Politico Daily Kos Hot Air (conservative blogger) Miscellaneous
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Photo by Karen P.
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Social Networking platforms allow people to self-identify, to claim their own descriptions of themselves, so they can go align with global groups of their own choosing...technology is revealing more clearly to us now what has always been a truth: that everyone has something rare and powerful to offer our society, and that the human ability to adapt is out greatest asset.
- Aimee Mullins |
Torch Lake, Michigan.
August, 2013
