Rate of Mental Illness in US is Staggering

"A World Health Organization study released Tuesday shows that rates of most mental illness are far higher in the U.S. than in any other country in the world. . . .Despite evidence that one in four U.S. adults experiences mental illness at some point, researchers still consider the figure an underestimate."

http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/88/99740?GT1=3479
Wonder if this includes fundies, freepers and neo-cons?

*'s approval hovers in the high 40s,no more evidence is necessary. The WHO didn't need to do a study to find a high rate of mental illness here.

Isn't 1/4 about the number of Americans who consider themselves to be self-identified Republican loyalists?

The folks that conducted this research are top-notch. I study mental health service utilization in minority populations.

I would, as an expert, say that fundies, freepers and neo-cons account for the majority of UNTREATED mental illness in the US. If they actually acknowledged their mental health problems, the prevalence of mental illness in the US would increase to 67%.

(End partial sarcasm.)

"I would, as an expert, say that fundies, freepers and neo-cons account for the majority of UNTREATED mental illness in the US. If they actually acknowledged their mental health problems, the prevalence of mental illness in the US would increase to 67%."

Anyone who thinks that 67% of the population is mentally ill must have a financial/professional reason for believing it.

at the expense of "fundies, freepers and neo-cons". I don't honestly believe 2/3 of the US has a mental illness.

And my work is concerned with racial/ethnic disparities in mental health service utilization and I assure you that there isn't much money in that. At all.

in this country. Just being a loyal viewer of FOX News would qualify as an indication of a serious personality disorder.

are going up because the drug producers have convinced people to lable a wide range of behaviors as "bipolar," including a large segment of children and youth. It is open for debate if the schizophrenic disorders and the actual, true bipolar disorders are increasing at all.

The Axis 2 personality disorders and depressive disorders are indeed increasing. Again, the promotion of "it's an illness = take our medication" mentality has a heck of a lot to do with that. Still, it doesn't take a psychiatrist to figure out we are an emotionally disturbed culture, producing people with personality disorders and serious depressive symptoms.

Of interest is that there does seem to be a significant increase in the % of the population exhibiting pyschopathic/sociopathic behaviors. Is it genetic or environmental? Is the color green the result of yellow or blue?

Bipolar is a pretty specific illness, and so far as I know -- when compared to the increasing prevalences of PTSD, ADHD and depression -- has maintained a fairly steady (and low) prevalence. I'd be interested in where your data comes from.

Also, medication isn't too successful with the Axis II disorders and the therapy that seems to work best (at least for Borderlines) is Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) which combines cognitive and behavioral therapies with a touch of interpersonal. So I don't see how the pharm. industry could influence those prevalences.

I do agree, however, that we are medicating our children (and ourselves) WAY too much and have barely begun to realize it.

note the number of types that are diagnosed today, compared with 20 years ago. Type 1, Type 2, childhood onset, etc. By no small coincidence, it has increased at the same rate as the # of medications available to "treat" this illness.

Second, if you look closely at the cases diagnosed where there is comorbidity with substance abuse/addiction (a huge % of those under the age of 50), especially those in the "forensic" groups, who may note that those who abuse cocaine often are diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. I'd venture that anyone who puts massive quantities of cocaine into their system will indeed suffer from "mood swings." These mood swings mimic bipolar disorders, perhaps, but are more often than not distinct.

The number of people in jails and prisons who suffer from (severe) personality disorders is indeed great. The majority of them are more easily "handled" by chemical means than therapy. In my humble opinion, based upon decades of experience as a psychiatric social worker, this insures high rates of recidivism.

The drug companies "host" luncheons and conferences for those who "treat" both Axis 1 and 2 disorders. Further, the insurance companies discourage long-term therapy, and encourage prescriptions. In many public mental health clinics, the emphasis is on psychiatrists who only see clients to prescribe; on psychiatric nurses who specialize in medications; and case managers. Therapists are playing far less of a role in treatment. I believe that they all should play a significant role. But I've seen far too many people drugged senseless. Our society, much like the jails, finds it far easier to deal with a merry fool than a sad wise man/woman.

The Pharmaceutical industry is in bed with the devil. That's a given. Totally agree.

But I have a different take on some of the mental health issues. I believe bipolar 1 is distinct from bipolar 2 and that folks really suffering from the former absolutely, 100% benefit from lithium.

Comorbidity of substance abuse and other disorders is indeed endemic among treated (and probably untreated) samples. But I disagree when you imply (and forgive me if I misunderstood) that folks suffering with substance abuse are misdiagnosed with bipolar and treated as such. Most therapists I know wouldn't treat cocaine addiction with pharmaceuticals. (Again, if I misunderstood, my bad.)

In my research, I actually deal with Juvenile Justice samples so I know a bit about the AMAZINGLY inflated prevalence of mental illness among prisoners/detainees. It's unbelievable (for example, in community samples the prevalence of DSM diagnosed disorders among teens is roughly 18% whereas in justice samples it ranges from 50 to 70%).

But "true" personality disorders are very rare -- if we look just at Cluster C disorders (the ones most likely to have run-ins with the law); Histrionic 2%, Narcissistic <1%, Antisocial 3%m, 1%f, Borderline 2% (2000 statistics). I would aver that the majority of inmates, while very possibly suffering with mental illness, aren't suffering from Axis 2 disorders -- a true Antisocial is like Ken Bianchi or some other serial killer.

And treatment for Axis 2 disorders are all pretty poor. Super treatment-resistant and usually they don't believe there's any problem other than YOU, as I'm sure you've experienced. What meds would you give an someone with APD? What are the companies pushing? Something that knocks them out, I imagine? I know there's been great success with DBT in Borderlines and not much success with anything else (for Borderline or for the other Cluster C disorders). And if they're being "controlled" while in prison but not given any therapy like you say (and I totally believe you) recidivism makes total sense to me (unfortunately, only one piece of the recidivism puzzle, but not an insignificant one.)

about your ideas on APD..... Ken Bianchi sounded like a fairly extreme example, perhaps more accurately diagnosed on the Hare checklist ? APD as I understood it (I'm retired!) was a group of behaviors that most of the 18 to 27 year olds in any county jail seem to exhibit. One of the characteristics that I think separates the sociopaths from the APDs is the total lack of the "criminal code of honor." I found that a significant number of the young men in jail, if they could stop the alcohol consumption on the outside, could use some of the APD traits in their favor, ... legally, of course.

As for cocaine, I'll tell you one example, though I know many, many more. I had a female client who could be best considered a sociopath, though in the late 1980s, our rural clinic went with BPD with some noted antisocial traits. (The BPD-APD/female-male ideas were still unexplored.) She hood-winked medicaid in a 2-year period for about $15,000 in a fantastic scam that is a story in itself. She bought cocaine with almost every penny of that $15000, which helped lead to her lack of judgement and eventual arrest. Went to jail for a year. The jail -- not local, as ours did not house females for extended periods -- noted her mood disturbances. She told the psychiatrist she carried a bipolar diagnosis. The doctor did not check with us, and thus did not realize it was bullshit. She got medicine in jail. When she came out, we got her records. At first, our psychiatrist carried the bipolar diagnosis over, and actually prescribed. I traced the lie to its root. No more medication for her non-existent "bipolar disorder."

It only makes sense in this country and anyone who suspects back door scheming by the drug companies and realted industries, is NOT paranoid. lOL

I also suspect that same dynamic goes on with the now national disease of Diabetes.

Some years back, the bar was lowered as far as the FBS goes in order to be considered officially a diabetic. It used to be 140, but now is much, much lower. I think anything over 110 is the parameter now.

We do not get to see any studies--we being the common person who has to "ask their doctor" but the FBS may or may not be a parameter for developing complications but moreso the Hb1Ac--or the average shifts over a period of time and the spikes.

Inthis day and age of the selling of diseases and the social pride in being able to be in the "in crowd" by citing a specific diagnosis or disorder, whether the result of a hypochondriasis or not, it is not unreasonable to question why exactly a cure for Diabetes is not forthcoming--and the sense part is that billions and billions are made from people who suffer hence by the drug and related industries.

It makes no sense to develop a cure at this point. There is promise in stem cell therapy--why aren't we pursuing that?

It is far more profitable to lower the bar, keep people dependant and Diabetic.

that there's such a stigma attached to seeking treatment for mental health problems in this country. My guess is that it goes back to the Puritan influence on our society. Have depression? Read the bible. Suffering through an abusive relationship? Read the bible. To hell with seeking out a therapist or a Psychiatrist.
Then we wonder why someone sprays a Post Office with an Uzi.

and we can't abide weakness as a people. (I don't believe this crap for a second, but to to the many who are imbued with the pioneer spirit/cowboy myth and all that crap, this is reality.)

This is a sad national trait, but hard to dispute. Couple this with the greatest percentage of religious believers in the industrialized world, and the most hours worked per capita, and it's a wonder things aren't worse. The tough-guy syndrome is deeply embedded in our psyche, and woe is he/she who shows failings such as these.

No one could listen to that swill and not become mentally ill.

We have some in the Whitehouse right now with it.

It's interesting to me the amount of anxiety disorders. Personally I think much of our self flagellation and hyper criticalness of others is a result of our cultures propensity towards idealizing perfection. Many of us believe that happiness is a goal, as if it could be a constant state of being. No one is happy all the time no matter what their circumstances. The amount of pressure in the work-place I feel is the biggest contributing factor in the increase in anxiety. The pressure to perform and the critical nature of many work places leaves many pre-occupied with their success, worried about their futures and down right exhausted. Let alone the fact that we need to worry about if we will have a job regardless of our personal performance.

it is about an absence of bliss...and, posibly, an overabundance.

Thought provoking. In fact, our biological make-up -- the hard-wiring of our brains and our entire nervous system -- is exactly the same as was our most primative of human ancestors'. Our bodies are a highly evolved machine, and all of the emotions and sensations that we "feel" (including the many emotions and sensations we do not identify on a conscious level) are again exactly those of the early hunters and gatherers; of the first people who practiced agriculture and animal husbandry; of those men and women from the jungles, the savannas, and the caves of Europe.

Today, we dress differently. We have fancy cars, comfortable homes, beautiful music, flashing lights, etc etc. But we are still the same animal.

Last night, when I went out in the gentle rain to bring my dogs in for the night, I met a red fox in my drive way. It startled me, and scared that fox. When it ran away, a smaller fox ran off with it. I thought a lot about how this wonderful wild animal (no different than it's ancestors) was forced to adopt to "civilization." It was paranoid, suspicious, and certainly anxious -- fox survive because of these traits.

we are constantly bombarded by advertising that says "if you don't have product x, then you'll be ugly, unsuccessful, unlovable,unsexy, unworthy, unsafe.." the whole concept that MORE is never enough, and the idea that good looks and the right toys will fulfill you, brings nothing more than anxiety, disappointment, anger, exhaustion, depression and emptiness. Turning off the TV and setting aside mainstream magazines would probably cut Prozac sales in half!

a rather depressing, yet philosophically interesting movie about a young mother who has cancer. Woman has a great moment of epiphany about 1/2 into flick after her diagnosis: she is walking around in a store or a mall and says something about 'things' (buying, consuming, wanting) as nothing more than a distraction from death.

Slaves to 'matter.'

:argh:

:)

Every day, over and over, all day long, I hear, "Hi, how are you?", "Fine how are you?". Everything is fine...fine...fine. It never varies and it signifies nothing.

With the Pubs in Control, America has reached the point of being exploited from Within, by its own group of People.

Guess who eats at the finest Restuarants?
and who plays Golf at you know where?
etc etc c

And guess who cleans the pools, the lawns, the Fairways, and Inspects the luggage, the handbags, and picks the fruits, the veggies. etc etc
and who fights for the Pubs?

etc

This can only occur in a Maddening World.

Jr.
Cheney
Rummy
Condi
Rove
Wolfie
Tenet

all nucking futs

and anxiety about things like terror incidents, and is it any wonder that more weren't bucking fonkers.

I was in a mental hospital 2 years ago for severe depression. People were coming in and out constantly.

BTW - Although I have never been to jail, I would wager a mental hospital is on the same level of fun places to be.

with a kid in Baghdad, of course we are severely depressed. I cope with it by using what Ive learned in counseling before. I take action to cope with my anger (depression is anger turned inaide ones self).
When people ask me if I am fine, and Im not feeling fine, I tell them, no, Im not feeling "fine". Then I smile. I wont be dishonest with them.
My youngest son is depressed too. He is coming back to live but I have to make strong boundaries with him. Get a counselor, but dont fall back into the same behaviour patterns he did when he was younger.
People cope with depression (anger turned inside) by using drugs, alcohol, etc. There are other ways. There are lots of ways, and the social engineering right now in the US is anominable and doesnt offer alternatives . Massage, Tai Chi, exercise, group therapy where you find out you are not isolated, and more.
The key issue is that "mental illness" doesnt mean you are insane, it means you are coping, imho, with a devastating set of social engineering policies that are not friendly to existence as human beings.
Think about it. People are working longer hours for 5 dollars an hr, people cannot pay their gas bills, people can barely get by, people are eating sickening junk food that hurts their bodies and minds, people are drinking filthy water and sucking in polluted air, people are lonely in isolated communities and families are forced to move to find better jobs all the time.
Depression? you bet.
It takes a lot of work to find peace inside yourself and put positive thoughts in your head in the midst of all of this.
My counselor (who sees a counselor herself), says the US has 60% or more people seeking help for depression.
She also said "dont let a GP prescribe meds for you if you are depressed..they get kickbacks from the pharmaceutical industries for passing out SSTDs for doing so"
She told me "see a psychiatrist for meds if you need some"
Im seeing one on June 24, and I dont know if I will seek meds, or try alternatives, which I prefer.
Dance to music.
Find good things to do, like work a job I like.
Structure my time.
Find peace in the small things of life.
Dont overdue.
Simplify my life and dont worry about what other people think of me.
Love my puppy.
Believe good things will happen.
Mental illness should have a new name, maybe it should be called human beings coping in a fucked up society that has poor social engineering and greedy bastards who could care less whether we all survive in the United States.
thats my take on it anyway.

A Pill is Not Enough: Psychologist Michael Browne on the failures of antidepressants (CityPaper.com) Beth Hawkins

You wouldn't know it from reading local newspapers, but the antidepressant revolution is in trouble. Last year, the British government concluded that for children, the popular antidepressant Paxil carried a host of troubling side effects (including an increased risk of suicide) that outweighed potential benefits. The warnings were soon broadened to include most major antidepressants, and sparked a flood of concern in this country. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration waffled for months, but was finally forced in March to ask the manufacturers of 10 antidepressants to warn doctors and patients that both adults and children taking the drugs should be closely monitored for worsening depression and thoughts of suicide.

...

Following his presentation, Browne sat down with City Pages to discuss his work. What follows are excerpts from that conversation.

http://www.citypages.com/databank/25/1225/article12146.asp

... we'll see that rate soar to over 75%.