| Abstract: | Comments on the article by David Ausubel (see record 1962-03334-001) which argued that mental disorders are a disease. The point made by the current author that the facts that all behavior is mediated through neural structures and physiological processes and that impairment in these may result in disturbed behavior in no way support the proposition that the use of medical measures in treating behavior disorders is justified. Medical interventions for psychological disturbances seem to be warranted only when it can be demonstrated that, first, such procedures are directed toward the alleviation of certain underlying physical anomalies, and second, that the disturbances can be best treated by means of such interventions. Moreover, the fact that physical or psychological interventions can affect behavior in no way bears on the question of whether the condition represents a disease process or not. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
