Philosophy
One of most celebrated questions in philosophy is the mind/body problem, that is, are the mind and the brain the same thing or different things. If they are different, how, if at all, are they interconnected? Let's take an oblique approach to this in terms of treating mental dysfunction. One often hears arguments for "mental health parity" (as opposed to "mental health parody" which involves humorous sketches including Sigmund Freud) according to which health insurance ought to cover treatment for psychiatric and psychological issues in the same way that it does bodily concerns. The question immediately raised is whether psychological issues are, in fact, simply a subset of physical issues. There is no doubt that mental health overlaps with physical health, that neurotransmitter issues, for example, have behavioral effects, but is mental health completely subsumed under physical health in the same way that, say, cardiology would be or do parts of mental health treatment lay outside of the realm of medical treatment for physical well-being?
- What's The Difference: Worry, Fear, And Anxiety
I was invited to sit in on a colleague's abnormal psychology class last week. No, I was not used as an exhibit. During the discussion, they were distinguishing between the ways in which mental health professionals use the words "worry,"...
- Do We Need To Get Away?
Vacation is surely a modern construct, but is it a necessity of contemporary life? Do we need vacation time? We call taking the occasional day off a "mental health day" but is this a metaphor or meant to be understood literally? Is getting away from it...
- Campus Mental Health And False Urgency
NPR had a series last week about mental health on college campuses and we've been getting a similar push here. Counseling services at colleges and universities across the country are getting clobbered. Several explanations have been proposed. One,...
- Placebos And Autonomy
A new study finds that about half of American doctors prescribe placebos for their patients. In order for the placebo effect to work, the patient must believe that the prescribed treatment is generally effective, something the doctor knows to be false....
- New Legislation For The "electronic Cigarette"?
Well, this is new and does pose some curious issues about legislation. Just about everyone is on the bandwagon to ban smoking everywhere dressed in the guise of health concerns for the individual, the cost of treating related health ailments, and second...
Philosophy
Mental Health Parity and Identity
One of most celebrated questions in philosophy is the mind/body problem, that is, are the mind and the brain the same thing or different things. If they are different, how, if at all, are they interconnected? Let's take an oblique approach to this in terms of treating mental dysfunction. One often hears arguments for "mental health parity" (as opposed to "mental health parody" which involves humorous sketches including Sigmund Freud) according to which health insurance ought to cover treatment for psychiatric and psychological issues in the same way that it does bodily concerns. The question immediately raised is whether psychological issues are, in fact, simply a subset of physical issues. There is no doubt that mental health overlaps with physical health, that neurotransmitter issues, for example, have behavioral effects, but is mental health completely subsumed under physical health in the same way that, say, cardiology would be or do parts of mental health treatment lay outside of the realm of medical treatment for physical well-being?
- What's The Difference: Worry, Fear, And Anxiety
I was invited to sit in on a colleague's abnormal psychology class last week. No, I was not used as an exhibit. During the discussion, they were distinguishing between the ways in which mental health professionals use the words "worry,"...
- Do We Need To Get Away?
Vacation is surely a modern construct, but is it a necessity of contemporary life? Do we need vacation time? We call taking the occasional day off a "mental health day" but is this a metaphor or meant to be understood literally? Is getting away from it...
- Campus Mental Health And False Urgency
NPR had a series last week about mental health on college campuses and we've been getting a similar push here. Counseling services at colleges and universities across the country are getting clobbered. Several explanations have been proposed. One,...
- Placebos And Autonomy
A new study finds that about half of American doctors prescribe placebos for their patients. In order for the placebo effect to work, the patient must believe that the prescribed treatment is generally effective, something the doctor knows to be false....
- New Legislation For The "electronic Cigarette"?
Well, this is new and does pose some curious issues about legislation. Just about everyone is on the bandwagon to ban smoking everywhere dressed in the guise of health concerns for the individual, the cost of treating related health ailments, and second...