Practice Guidelines for the Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders

While the dividing line between psychiatric disorders and normal behavior has grown less sharp during the last few years, I believe this is more due to advances in understanding of the human condition, than any sort of conspiracy. The first reviewer of this book obviously believes otherwise and would have all conform to his or her paranoid viewpoint. Truth be known, psychiatrists are probably the first to admit that our understanding of the human psyche is far from complete. However, current diagnoses and treatments are certainly not the attempt of those of us in white coats to turn society into a robot species--on the contrary. Psychiatric illness produces the same sequelae as does any illness: human suffering. Treatment, therefore, is based not on financial motives, but on randomized clinical trials showing decreases in patient suffering and increases in level of functioning. This book is obviously marketed towards physicians, but I welcome any reader to view its pages and see that the APA guidelines are based on science, and motivated by compassion.