Schizoaffective disorder: More junk science

Here’s a telling quote (and audience reaction) from the APA 2009 convention.

William T. Carpenter, Jr., MD, from the University of Maryland in Baltimore and head of the psychotic-disorders work group, which includes schizophrenia, outlined several main changes being considered in this area that might be controversial.

One of these questions is whether to retain schizoaffective disorder as a diagnostic entity. “We had hoped to get rid of schizoaffective as a diagnostic category because we don’t think it’s valid and we don’t think it’s reliable,” he said. “On the other hand, we think it’s absolutely indispensable to clinical practice,” he added wryly, drawing a laugh from the audience.

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REPORTED IN MEDSCAPE.COM

1 thought on “Schizoaffective disorder: More junk science”

  1. Rossa,

    I say it’s time to get rid of ALL of these labels –

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-409472/Experts-ban-schizophrenia-label.html

    “Scizophrenia.”
    “Schizoaffective Disorder.”
    “Bipolar Disorder.”

    All of them!
    Toss the labels out!

    What terms should we use to replace these labels?

    How about? –

    “Fellow human being.”
    “Equal.”

    How about we start with those terms…

    Until we have more of these terms:

    “Artist, laywer, mechanic, waiter, professor, scientist…”

    And finally:

    “Homeowner, successful professional…
    hard worker, great mother, best friend”

    Call me a “dreamer”… I’ve been called worse.

    Duane Sherry, M.S.
    discoverandrecover.wordpress.com

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