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Falsely Labelled As Schizophrenic
Psychiatry appears to have much more potential for making
false diagnoses than other branches of medicine. As consultant psychiatrist
Dr Malcolm Lader commented: "...the diagnosis of most psychiatric
conditions is a judgement made by the psychiatrist...The diagnosis cannot
be corroborated by laboratory tests...consequently the 'diagnosis' is
merely an opinion that the patient can be assigned to a particular class
of individuals with similar symptoms..." (Lader, 1977).
In recent years the campaigning organization 'Justice'
has revealed many instances of judicial error. The more memorable cases
include the trials of the Birmingham Six; the Guilford Four;
the Johnstone Sisters; the Tottenham Three; the Bridgewater Four;
Judith Ward; Noel Fellows; George Long and Stefan Kizco. It
is interesting to contrast these trials with psychiatric evaluations.
All the above had their wrongful convictions preceded by lengthy
police investigations; they were represented by barristers and solicitors;
there was cross-questioning of witnesses; the proceedings were over-seen
by impartial and experienced judges and the verdicts were reached after
careful consideration by properly constituted juries.
In contrast, a diagnosis of schizophrenia can simply be
based on the subjective interpretation of a subject's mental state
after a short interview with a lone psychiatrist.
Incredibly, the diagnostic verdict may have been influenced
by reports about the subject's alleged behaviour by relatives and neighbours
-identical sources to those usually responsible for denouncing victims
of the Medieval witch trials. Lucy Johnson, a former NHS senior
clinical psychologist has revealed that: "The account that
appears under 'previous history' in the medical notes will probably be
derived entirely from the parents and will be treated as a true version
of events...Meanwhile the patients point of view is discounted, because,
after all, the patient is mad" (Johnstone, 1989).
Furthermore, psychiatrists are likely to dismiss the patient's
protestations as lack of insight -a major psychiatric symptom. As Dr Al
Siebert points out: "...when people diagnosed as having "schizophrenia"
disagree that they are mentally ill, many psychiatrists believe their
own perceptions are "reality" and that the patients "lack
insight." No consideration is given to the possibility that the so-called
"schizophrenic" person's view that he or she is not "ill"
is valid (Siebert, 2000).
Given the potentially adverse legal, medical and social
consequences of being falsely labelled schizophrenic, we trust that the
responsible authorities will be prepared to admit their mistakes
wherever it is apparent that errors have been made.
We hope success stories like those of Kay Sheldon will inspire
others, falsely labelled, to challenge and repudiate the dangerous and
derogatory diagnosis of schizophrenia.
SOURCES:
Lader M (1977) 'Psychiatry on Trial' Penguin Books.
Johnstone L (1989) 'Users and Abusers of Psychiatry'
Routledge.
Johnston L (2000) 'Users and Abusers of Psychiatry: A
Critical Look at Psychiatric Practice' (2nd Edition) Routledge.
Siebert, A. (2000) 'What is Wrong with Psychiatry?' Journal
of Humanistic Psychology, Vol. 40, No.1, Winter, 2000. pp.34-58.
To see Dr Al Siebert's immensely interesting article in
full - together with other relevant material - visit the 'Successful Schizophrenia'
website at: http://www.webcom.com/thrive/schizo/contact.html
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