Sunday, 4 March 2007
The Dichotomy of Psychiatry and Neurology
The dichotomy of psychiatry and neurology with respect to TLE (Temporal Lobe Epilepsy), the most common form of epilepsy, should lean toward the path of neurology as the psychiatric symptoms are so very secondary. Epileptic focal points in the temporal lobe have been found in those with diagnoses such as schitzophrenia, bi-polar disorder, autism and the like. This is SOLID proof that that these psychiatric diagnoses are of neurological origin. Keep in mind that we all are, in essence, our brains. Why do you think those diagnosed with schitzo-effective disorder (schitzophrenia) etc. are practically "cured" when they begin treatment with an anti-convulsant, which unfortunately, is most often thought of as a treatment for whole brain epilepsy? Because their psychiatric symptoms are being stopped in their tracks, if you will, rather than masked with symptom cover-ups such as Lithium, Zyprexa, Seroquel, etc. The last two are classified as atypical antipsychotics therefore cary much stigma. Psychiatric diagnoses result in patients being improperly medicated as they only treat SYMPTOMS. TLE is classified as a physical disability, while bi-polar, etc. are classified as mental disabilities. Does not everyone suffering psychiatric symptoms deserve being classified with a disorder that is neurological in origin therefore "physical" rather than the ever so stigmatic, dare I say, diagnosis of "crazy?" "Meat before Metaphysics"; diagnosis and treatment of the root of the disorder is KEY.
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Thank you for the interesting comments about TLE and schizophrenia. I agree that most, if not all of the drugs used to treat schizophrenia, at useless. They target the symptoms and they don't even do that very well, as it seems that the vast majority of schizophrenics still hear voices and have off the charts anxiety even though they continue to take medication. I am not convinced that demonstrating what is going on in the brain of schizophrenics proves anything, other than that they have a brain and that something happens in it. My preferred theory of schizophrenia leans to the theory of the inherited unconscious. That we remember events and traumas that have happened to a previous generation and that this memory is passed through the umbilical cord to the newborn. At a certain point, usually around the late teens or early 20s, a triggering event will overwhelm the individual with memory or feeling. I believe schizophrenia is inherently curable but that one has to uncover the root cause. I believe that what goes on in the brain of schizophrenics is not the cause, it's still the symptom.
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