| Classification and Diagnosis | |
| Is the DSM-IV a Useful Classification System? | |
| YES | |
| NO | |
| Psychiatrists | |
| Professor of social work Herb Kutchins and professor of social welfare Stuart A. Kirk assert that the American Psychiatric Association’sdiagnostic system, particularly the current edition, DSM-IV , is so flawed that its utility should be seriously questioned | |
| Is There Gender Bias in the DSM-IV ? | |
| YES | |
| NO | |
| Forensic psychiatric consultant | |
| Psychological Conditions | |
| Is Multiple Personality Disorder a Valid Diagnosis? | |
| YES | |
| NO | |
| Psychiatrist Frank W. Putnam contends that the diagnosis of multiple personality disorder meets the standards for the three basic forms ofvalidity: content validity, construct validity, and criterion-related validity. Psychiatrist Paul R. McHugh denies the validity of multiple personality disorder, asserting that this condition is a socially createdbehavioral disorder induced by psychotherapists | |
| Does Attention Deficit Disorder Exist? | |
| YES | |
| NO | |
| Psychiatrist Edward M. Hallowell asserts that an appreciation for the complexity of attention deficit disorder (ADD) can provide valuableunderstanding about the workings of the brain and how this disorder affects the lives of millions of people | |
| Educational consultant and former special education teacher Thomas Armstrong contends that the diagnosis of ADD has been blown out ofproportion by the public and the professional community and is, in fact, a questionable diagnosis | |
| Should All Uses of MDMA (Ecstacy) be Prohibited? | |
| YES | |
| NO | |
| Science writers Robert Mathias and Patrick Zickler argue that MDMA has skyrocketed in popularity and that insufficient attention has been paid to the physical and psychological risks associated with its use | |
| June Riedlinger, an assistant professor of clinical pharmacy, and Michael Montagne, a professor of pharmacy, contend that the risks associated with MDMA use have been exaggerated and that there are legitimate therapeutic uses for this substance | |
| Does Post-Abortion Syndrome Exist? | |
| YES | |
| NO | |
| Psychiatrist E. Joanne Angelo contends that women who have abortions are at risk of developing a lasting, serious syndrome consisting ofseveral emotional and behavioral problems | |
| Social activist Joyce Arthur asserts that a general consensus has been reached in the medical and scientific communities that most women whohave abortions experience little or no psychological harm | |
| Are Repressed Memories Valid? | |
| YES | |
| NO | |
| Psychiatrist Richard P. Kluft supports the notion that people can recover memories that have been long unavailable, and he cites severalverified examples in which psychotherapy patients recalled previously inaccessible memories of traumatic events | |
| Psychologist Elizabeth F. Loftus cites extensive laboratory research to support her conclusion that suggestion and imagination can createldquo;memoriesrdquo; of events that never actually occurred | |
| Should Abstinence Be the Goal for Treating People With Alcohol Problems? | |
| YES | |
| NO | |
| Psychologist Patricia Owen asserts that abstinence is the safest and most honest treatment goal for most people who are dependent on alcohol. Health and medical writer Anne Fletcher contends that many people with alcohol problems can be successful in their efforts to control their drinking, particularly if they are given professional guidance and support | |
| Treatment | |
| Are Prozac and Similar Antidepressants Safe and Effective? | |
| YES | |
| NO | |
| Psychiatrist William S. Appleton asserts that Prozac and other drugs in the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can provideeffective relief for depression as well as other mental health problems and concerns, with minimal side effects. Psychi | |
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