Abandoning diagnostic criteria for research in mental health

The blog entry by Thomas Insel, NIMH director, has created much comment (eg. New Scientist article and blog post by Phil Thomas). I've mentioned before how grandiose Insel can become in his claims for mental disorders as biological disorders involving brain circuits (eg. see previous post). His RDoC project will not create a new nosology despite his wishful thinking. As he says, we lack the data to "design a system based on biomarkers or cognitive performance". We need to accept the uncertainty of psychiatric practice and medicine in general, rather than promote 'precision medicine' as the solution to mental disorders as he proposes.

Nonetheless, we should welcome NIMH re-orientating its research away from DSM categories. It may actually be progress if this means funding research on patients without relying on diagnostic criteria.

Invitation to Radical Caucus Events at APA on May 18th

THE RADICAL CAUCUS HAS MANY IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES THIS YEAR, AND OUR COLLEAGUES FROM THE CRITICAL PSYCHIATRY NETWORK WILL BE JOINING US. PLEASE COME TO DISCUSS PLANS FOR COLLABORATIVE GLOBAL ACTIVITIES. (NOTE: IF YOU PLAN TO COME TO DINNER PLEASE LET ME KNOW, ALTHOUGH LAST MINUTE GUESTS ARE STILL WELCOME.) ALSO NOTE NEW LOCATION FOR DINNER.

RADICAL CAUCUS EVENTS AT THE 2013 AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING IN SAN FRANCISCO

Saturday May 18, 2013: 9AM to 12 Noon: Moscone Center, Street Level, Gateway Ballroom 102

Presidential Symposium: “Envisioning a New Psychiatry: Radical Perspectives”

Chairs: Carl I. Cohen , MD; Kenneth Thompson, MD;

Discussants: Sami Timimi, M.D., Helena Hansen, M.D., Ph.D.

Presentations:

· Jean Furtos, MD: “Globalization and Mental Health: The Weight of the World, the Size of the Sky

· Sandro Galea, M.D.: “Re-Engaging Research Around the Socail and Economic Production of Mental Health:Toward a Comprehensive Model of Mental Illness”

· Pat Bracken, M.D, Ph.D: ” Beyond the Technological Paradigm: A Positive Path for psychiatry”

· Steven Moffic, M.D.: Eco-Psychiatry: Why We Need to Keep the Environment in Mind”

· Keris J. Myrick, MBA, Ph.D(cand): Alternative, Complimentary, or Traditional: A Radical Approach from the C/S/X Perspective”

Saturday May 18, 2013; 3:30PM -5:00PM; Moscone Center

Issue Workshop: “United Kingdom Critical Psychiatry Network: Implications for the APA and Global Psychiatry”

Chairs: Helena Hansen, M.D. , Ph.D.; Bradley Lewis, M.D., Ph.D.

Presenters:

Dr Hugh Middleton, MA. MD. MRCP. FRCPsych.

Professor Sami Timimi, MBChB FRCPsych

Dr Pat Bracken, DPM,MA,MD,PhD,MRCPsych

Saturday, May 18, 2013; 6:30PM -8:30PM Hilton San Francisco; Union Square Rooms 19/20 4th Floor, Tower 3

“Radical Caucus Meeting–Open Discussion and Planning Session”

Light Snacks and Beverages

8:30 PM Radical Caucus Annual Dinner Dinner (note new location) 

Basil Canteen located on Folsom street at 11th1489 Folsum St (at 11^th St); 415-552-3963.

All Welcome!!!!

For more information contact: carl.cohen@downstate.edu.

Also visit our new Web site at http://www.radicalcaucus.com.

Please post comments and suggestions.

Carl I. Cohen , M.D.

SUNY Distinguished Service Professor & Director

Division of Geriatric Psychiatry

SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Box 1203

450 Clarkson Avenue

Brooklyn, N.Y. 11203

email: carl.cohen@downstate.edu

ph: 718-287-4806

fax: 718-287-03377

Phantasy dreams about NEI congress

I've mentioned before the apparent fun people have at NEI congresses (see previous post). The latest video from neipsychopharm gives an idea about what you missed from the recent congress. I suppose we can hope that what happened at the congress may help patient care but it's difficult to see how it would.

Call to embrace social paradigm

Leaders of British academic social psychiatry argue in BJPsych editorial that the rules regulating research and the dominant neurobiological paradigm may have stifled creativity. The new charity MQ: Transforming Mental may need to take this perspective more on board. (Why's it called MQ?)