Psychiatry Must Stop Ignoring Trauma, with Dr. Bessel van der Kolk | Big Think.

TL;DR

Psychiatry historically ignored trauma, leading to misdiagnoses and overmedication in the U.S.

Transcript

Psychiatry has always had a complex relationship to trauma. It first started off as a discipline that looked at the bizarre symptoms that people have and then they uncovered way back in the late 1800s at the Salpetriere in Paris particularly that people have very bizarre reactions to trauma and so that defines hysteria 150 years ago. So there was s... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Psychiatry had a historically complex relationship with trauma.
• 🥺 Neglecting trauma led to misdiagnoses and overmedication.
• ❓ Psychotropic drugs calm individuals but may hinder curiosity and engagement.
• 😀 Overmedicated children may face deficits in learning and societal engagement.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the understanding of trauma evolve in psychiatry?

Initially, trauma was studied in the late 1800s but later ignored. Events like the World Wars brought it back into focus, shaping psychiatric views on trauma.

Q: How has neglecting trauma impacted psychiatric diagnoses?

Neglect of trauma led to misdiagnoses like Oppositional Defiant Disorder and overmedication. This approach fails to address the root causes of behavioral and mental health issues.

Q: What role do psychotropic drugs play in treating traumatized individuals?

Psychotropic drugs calm individuals but also decrease curiosity and engagement. Overmedication of traumatized individuals in the U.S. poses risks for their long-term mental health and societal contribution.

Q: Why is the neglect of trauma a serious public health issue?

Neglecting trauma in psychiatric care leads to misdiagnoses, overmedication, and societal issues. This neglect impacts individuals' long-term mental health and societal contributions, presenting a critical public health challenge.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Psychiatry initially studied trauma in the late 1800s but later dismissed it.

• Trauma resurfaced during World Wars, shaping psychiatric views and diagnoses.

• Neglect of trauma in psychiatric care leads to overmedication and societal issues.