When symptoms are a mystery - American Psychological Association article that quotes Sharpe. (2013.)

[fossil]

An article from the American Psychological Association, that quotes Sharpe. (2013.)

When symptoms are a mystery.

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2013/07-08/symptoms

"There has been an unfortunate split in our thinking between what's physical and what we think of as ‘real,' and what is mental, and what we think of as imaginary or blameworthy," says Sharpe. "What we really don't have, and what we need, is better integration and understanding of conditions that may have both physical and psychological components."

In fact, because of this split, the area is highly controversial, with physicians and researchers sometimes butting heads with patient advocates who are unwilling to accept that their conditions may be partly or completely psychologically based.

"Finally, some studies show that antidepressants can help ameliorate a gamut of unexplained symptoms, whether or not the person is depressed, says Sharpe. That could be because depression increases the propensity to ruminate and to view stimuli as aversive, because the neural pathways for negative psychological and physical symptoms such as pain and depression are closely related, or both, he notes."

 

[chrisb]

There has been an unfortunate split in our thinking between what's physical and what we think of as ‘real,' and what is mental, and what we think of as imaginary or blameworthy," says Sharpe.

It isn't surprising that we are confused if people capable of constructing such poorly thought out sentences are in charge. How many categories is he suggesting. Are "real" and "imaginary or blameworthy" separate classifications or merely descriptive of "physical" and "mental" respectively? Is the "or" in imaginary or blameworthy to be construed conjunctively or disjunctively.

Given the number of words he writes it would help if he could express himself more clearly.

Does he use the word "mental" to describe what is imaginary or blameworthy?

 

[Hoopoe]

I find this hilarious. Sharpe promoted an illness model where the patient falsely thinks they are ill. It is exactly the patient blaming, all-in-the-head model he claims it is not.

 

[rvallee]

whether or not the person is depressed, says Sharpe.

That could be because depression increases the propensity to ruminate

Schrodinger's patient, not depressed but is also definitely depressed. Whatever, just load 'em up with pills that won't do any good and have plenty of harmful consequences so that patients will know not to come back anymore because they'll be given bullshit treatment whatever they do.

I was given antidepressants, antianxiolytics, antipsychotics. All had bad side-effects. None did anything to address my problems. It's completely irresponsible to push for giving the wrong drug to sick people just because some jerks feel like it.

This whole psychosocial garbage can be summed up as: first, do harm, so those annoying malingerers won't come back and pester you with complaints.

These people, Sharpe and whoever listens to his nonsense, are even more broken inside than any of us. No moral compass. No sense of ethics. Ridiculous.

 

[rvallee]

Does he use the word "mental" to describe what is imaginary or blameworthy?

The correct answer is: whatever makes you agree that he is right. Explanations are tweaked to appeal to whoever is listening and the details don't matter.