Stuff I would do if I didn’t have a job
1. Sleep late
2. Go to a cafe and read something smart while sipping coffee
3. Listen to Radio Times, WHYY’s show hosted by Marty Moss Coane, about current affairs. A description of today’s show:
A new study shows a 40-fold increase in bipolar diagnosis in children over 10 years. Is this a case of overdiagnosis or have psychiatrists been underdiagnosising the disorder in the past? We are joined by the author of the study, MARK OLFSON a professor of psychiatry from Columbia University and psychiatrist ELLEN LEIBENLUFT from the National Institutes of Mental Health to talk about the alarming rise in bipolar diagnosis in children.
I hope Moss-Coane points to the flaws in this study, which John M. Grohol does a nice job of explicating. Also, the Wall Street Journal’s Health Blog notes that Mark Olfson has financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry, which Moss-Coane should question.
To listen live to the program, or to learn more, go here.
liz | 8:54 AM | Uncategorized
I’ve read Grohol’s article. I would imagine that if only psychiatrists had been included in the study, the numbers would have been higher. Still, I’m wondering why general practitioners are allowed to give a child a label and medication that will effect him or her for the rest of his or her life. General practioners generally don’t diagnose brain tumors or MS. On the other hand, if you see a psychiatrist, you are automatically given a diagnosis, so I can’t think its a good idea for anyone to do that.
I do all those things and am still not happy!
“Go to a cafe and read something smart while sipping coffee”
Excellent idea, thanks for reminding me I am free to be more than bored. Think I’ll also listen to a podcast.
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