SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF MENTAL ILLNESS

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SOCIAL CONSTRUCTION OF MENTAL ILLNESS
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OVERVIEW

• FOCUS ON M.I. AS SOCIAL CATEGORY NOT ON PEOPLE
  WITH M.I.
• HOW GROUPS CREATE, USE, AND EXPAND CATEGORIES OF
  M.I.
• PROFESSIONAL, FAMILY, ECONOMIC
• EXAMPLES OF SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION, SOCIAL ANXIETY,
  AUTISM, ADD

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SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION
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FINDINGS

• 43 OF WOMEN AND 31 OF MEN HAVE SEXUAL
  DYSFUNCTION
• VERY WIDESPREAD PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM
• PEOPLE MUST KNOW THAT MEDICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE
  TO HELP

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DSM SYMPTOMS

• LACK INTEREST IN SEX
• ANXIETY ABOUT PERFORMANCE
• AROUSAL DIFFICULTIES
• UNABLE TO HAVE ORGASM
• CLIMAX TOO QUICKLY
• FIND SEX PAINFUL
• SEX NOT PLEASURABLE

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SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION

• BEST PREDICTOR?
• LOW SATISFACTION WITH PARTNER
• PEOPLE WHO DONT ENJOY SEX WITH PARTNERS ARE
  CALLED MENTALLY ILL AND SHOULD TAKE MEDICATION

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SOCIAL ANXIETY DISORDER
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FINDINGS

• FIRST APPEARED IN DSM-III (1980)
• FIRST STUDY - COMPELLING DESIRE TO AVOID
  SITUATIONS 2.75 PREVALENCE IN 1984
• NCS UNREASONABLY STRONG FEAR 13.3
  PREVALENCE IN 1994

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WHY PERPETUATED?

• PERPETUATED BECAUSE BENEFITS PARTICULAR GROUPS
• PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES
• RESEARCHERS
• CONSUMERS

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AUTISM
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AUTISM

• 273 INCREASE FROM 1990-2000
• BELIEF IN AUTISM EPIDEMIC
• SEARCH FOR CAUSES (E.G. VACCINATION)

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GERNSBACHER

• BEFORE 1990, NOT EVEN REPORTED
• RISE TOO GREAT TO BE BELIEVABLE
• IN FACT, EXPANDED DSM CRITERIA MAKE IT EASIER TO
  GET DIAGNOSIS
• BENEFITS FROM DIAGNOSIS STARTING IN 1991 (IDEA)

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AUTISM

• ADVANTAGES FROM DIAGNOSIS FOR FAMILIES
• COALESCE INTO SOCIAL MOVEMENT
• IMPORTANCE OF LAY GROUPS IN PROMOTING DIAGNOSIS

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ADD
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ADD DIAGNOSES 1980 - 2000
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PRESCRIPTIONS FOR METHYLPHENIDATE
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REASONS

• 1991 CHANGE IN FEDERAL DISABILITY POLICY
• FAMILIES ENHANCE PERFORMANCE, CONTROL BEHAVIOR
• TEACHERS MORE CONTROL IN CLASSROOM
• DRUG COMPANIES
• LAY GROUPS - CHADD

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BENEFITS

• BETTER ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE
• BOOST SELF-ESTEEM
• HELP PARENTS AND TEACHERS

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COSTS

• EFFECT OF LONG-TERM MEDICATION REGIME
• STIGMA?
• ABUSE OF DIAGNOSIS

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SUMMARY

• TREMENDOUS RECENT RISE IN RATES OF TREATED M.I.
• INFLUENCE OF PHARMACEUTICAL CO.
• INFLUENCE OF FAMILY GROUPS
• INFLUENCE OF DSM
• BENEFITS AND COSTS