Last week, I was interested to read a BMJ paper arguing it
is time to end the distinction between mental and neurological
illnesses. The focus of this paper was on DSM-V and ICD-11, but it
provides yet another voice suggesting psychiatry should be absorbed
into neuroscience. No one can doubt the importance of the
neurosciences, and what is coming out of this field of research.
However, human beings at risk of, or with, mental disorder do not
exist outwith a social content.
We really do our users and carers, public
health, primary care and the rest of medicine – to say nothing of
social care, education and justice – an irrevocable injustice if we
don’t hold onto the importance of psychiatry as the best branch of
medicine. We embed ourselves in a psychosocial context, deal with
complexity at the edge of uncertainty, and there is a substantial
evidence base for what we do.
On Friday, I attended the official opening of
the
Institute of Mental Health’s new £7 million building in
Nottingham. This is a great example of how researchers, clinicians
and service providers can work together. Chief Medical Officer
Professor Dame Sally Davies performed the official opening, and
sang the praises of how this Institute has brought together all the
relevant specialties to deliver evidence-based, integrated care and
real translational research for the benefit of patients.
I hope you all had a good weekend and enjoy
the weather for the next couple of days.
Sue
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